The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-02-28

I
yet IT is not certain but that some Of those
most affected by the event will meet their
fate in the same careless manner.
THE PICKET HEADQUARTERS.
The headquarters Of the picketing eetach-
ment is an old barn or other building, so sit
uated as to be in a central position from the
several posts. 1t is here that the men get
their meals; that the cuisine department is
carried on. that the officer in charge Is usual
ly 10 be found, and that tie majority Of the
men who are off duty eongregate. Let Nc
Clellan say what he pleases about having
'lres on the posts, he has not yet abolished
the fire in the Kitchen" nor prescribed IFS
size, and 10. what consumption of logs and
rails is therefore in progress al these head
quarters. The lieutenant in command is
asleep. wrapped up in a blanket before the
fire, and many Of the men are initiating his
example, so that the scene inside of this
riekety old barn presents quite a cheerful
contrast with the cold and gloom which pre-
vail out-of-doors.
A CAVALRY CHARGE.
The next shot that is fired will have diff
ferent meaning. Jake is now on the post, in
his turn, as iiercely wratnful and wakeful as
the toothache can make him, and he sees :he
shadowy horse moving against the southern
horizon long before that horse can take the
distinct outlines of men and horses. The in
slant he is certain wha: is coming, he fires
his piece. Immediately there is an outpour-
ing of pickets from the headquarters, and
lively excitement along the lines. The lieu
tenant is instantly on his feet, and re-
connoitering the approaching rebel horse
men, while quietly making the disposition for
their reception. Like a thunder cloud they
come on, with here and there a fash, while
the pickets rally on Jake's post to receive
them, it being already seen that they are not
in force, but only dozen or so daring and
reckless troopers on scout. The question
OF their character is speedily decid I'd by a few
Struggling shots they send in advance, and
sharp volley from the pekets is the answer
they receive.
The next moment they rush in upon our
brave boys, striking right and left with their
long swords, hut they have reckoned without
their host this tme-the sad accident before
described having left the pickets in situa-
ton to quickly and inteiligently rally. For
few minutes there is an active melee, the
tall leader of the hOrsemen doing wonders,
but il is soon evident that the ASSISTANTS are
getting more than they bargained for, and
the next instant they commence retreat in
considerable confusion, ali save the three or
four of their number who will never more
beat retreat. \ general cheer breaks from
| the lips Of the pichets, even as they proceed
TO raise the poor fellow the tall trooper has
cut down, and the two or three others who
have received more or less injury in the af-
fair, for il is an exciting and jubilant thing
10 See your enemy flying before YOU.
EMPTYING SADDLE.
Another cheer os delight is soon heard
along the post, for il is seen that the daring
!eader of the Rebel party is going directly
across the ravine, in a course that will bring
him near the advanced post number two
He is speedily beyond the sight of Jake, and
his comrades fading away in the gloom on
the right o. his followers, but the report os
several rifles is heard minute or two later,
and cry of triumph from the "boys" at post
number two announces the result. The
horse of the doomed man is seen by these
latter ascending the side OF the plateau,
bounding onward with renewed speed, rider
less The rebel IS dead-shot through the
heart. He lies there, a stranger, dead among
strangers, surrounded by those who do not
even know his name, and who never saw
him before. He has come for blood, and
has taken it-made just such another DESC
and these are the fortunes and the fates of
war,
HoBNuBEING WITH REBEL PICKETs.
Ii is probable that there will be no hob
nobbins between our pickets and those of
the rebels along these lines tonight. But
the interchange of these courtesies is COM
mon. Ii is decidedly comical TO see two men
who have lain behind couple of trees or
logs, on the opposite side of the river, all the
forenoon, each seeking for an opportunity of
putting bullet into the diaphragm Of his
adversary-it is comical, say, TO see these
same men wave a handkerchief at last, as =
flag of truce, lay down their arms, and ad-
vance to a meeting in the middle of the river
(up to their waists in waier,) where they
shake HANDS, treat one another, exchange
New York papers for Richmond, and dis
course most amicably for an hour Ii is still
more comical TO see these same men, the in
stant they get back to their respective posts,
, renew their dodging behind the logs and re-
peat their efforts 10 get good opportunity
: of blazing away al each other. Yet this scene
, is literal statement of proceedings the wri-
Ter has repeatedly seen On the Potomac and
II.