The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-11
The Unii0nored Braves Who Die on
Picket

Cores popderce CT the New York Tribune.
SEVEN PINES, June "a, 1862
On the 18th of June, met little pro-
cession of four men, bearing in from Hook
er's picket line upon bloody stretcher, the
body of dead soldier. l saluted the corpse
with my reverted hand to the visor of my
cap, and balting my horse, inquired "who
is he. boys?' Lyman Field, jr., of CO.
81, 10th Massachusetts," l passed on to
the front. They went rearward to the
grave.
Killed on picket! Who has sung the
dead heroes of the Picket? In what re-.
ports is honorable mention made of them,
that, face forward to the foe, fall dead under
fire while far in advance of the army, soli>
tary sentines to watch that danger does not
steal on it unannounced? ? In what bullet.
ins do these heroes receive embalmment
while they are buried, and leave to their
families with their knapsacks, their silver
watches, their purses, their pipes, and other
little personal property, the priceless legacy
of famous death in the Chickahominy
swamp? Alas, no mention is made of
them. They 60 regularly to battle every
evening they go out upon the picket
line, but they go unattended by the power,
patronage aud machinery of fame which
environs the regiments that are embattled
for field fight. They go alone almost, into
battle that lasts all night and all day,
without moments intermission. No mag-
netic thrill of courage is communicated by
touch of shoulder to shoulder-the observa-
tion that overawes or stimulates men in the
open field is wanting to them as brace to
the manly discharge of duty. They are
alone with their self-respect and the foe, and
when they 90 forward upon their knees a
bleeding offering upon the national altar, 1
say that these men merit l.ore, because they
have accomplished more and sacrificed more,
than those who in crowds meet death from
a missile that is ever thrown by chance, and
does never select unshining victims. Picket
duty it is the most important work done
in an army. The safety of brigades and
divisions depends upon the fidelity and cour~
age with which it is performed. 1t is the
hardest work done n an army. The i'm
posed silence, the sleepless vigilance, the par
tial solitude, the consciousness of constant
danger, strain men up to their highest pow
ers of endurance. No true soldier ever came
off from fighting picket line without weigh
ing less than when be went on And
when the ground is swampy, as it is all
over the Chickah0miDy and the White Oak
districts, physical discomfort and suffering
which cannot be avoided add to the drain
upon the soldiers vitality and send him
home with marks of exhaustion which men
accustomed to the sensitive reading of the
American face never fail to take note of
and be impressed by. He needed not to be
the son of prophet who, riding any day
past Sickles' men, coming in from picket
after three weeks service in the extreme
front, should surely say "tbat man, and that
man, and that man, broad chested and big
limbed as they are, will never again outie
any part of the White Oak Swamp. They
will ride within twenty~four hours-an6 not
to the front. Their next battle field is the
hospital and their force is already intrench-
ed within their nerves." And 30 it is.
There is no service on earth under whose
depressing and miasmatic influences men
break down 80 suddenly and profoundly as
picket duty in face of an enemy thoroughly
sa.age in bis temper, and crouchiDg in leafy
coverts which in time of peace shelter only
the serpent and the frog. But you, men and
women of the unsuspectipg and comfortable
North, have you any idea of the direct and
immediate dangers and losses oftbis union
ored and unsung military service? Look
at this list of Hooker's killed, wounded and
missing on picket from June 2 to June 70,
and consider that his front was not longer
than from Trinity Church, on Broadway, to
the Astor House.
One hundred and seven in 2l days, and
in one small Division I dare not tell how
many-how very many more, were lost to
this diminished body by disease-made nom
efsctives, who could not be relied on to even
get themselves out of the wav in a fight.