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

advance of his own force as to secure suita-
BILE notification of any advance or other de.
monstration of the enemy. These posts are
generally within sight or hearing of one an
other, and the line they form is so extended
as to protect the whole body of troops to
which they belong.
( All natural advantages, such as trees,rocks,
narrow defiles, &c., are considered in the &C.
lection of picket stations, and important o.
penings and frequented foot-paths near an
encampment are habitually placed under sur
veillance. In active service in Virginia, or
in almost any settled district, our picket sta
/ tons are farm-houses, mills and barns, which
the enemy has deserted at the approach Of
our troops. Around Alexandria, at Port
Tobacco, beyond Chain Bridge, toward Cen
terville, Fairfax, and other places where our
forces have been SO long resident as to boast
of being natives, the picket has taken unto
himself local appointments and conveniences,
and rendered his peculiar institution" quite
domestlcated; frequently occupying a COM
Portable house and good bed, and some
times keeping COW or a pig. For the pick
ct, like everybody else, from the disciples of
the ham philosophie downward, is keenly a.
live to to the divine claw Of compensations,' >
as witness the pertinacity with which he de-
mands that night of exposure should be
followed by bottle of whiskey!
TIE rlCkETs POSTED.
At times single picket is placed at post,
and relieved every two hours, like sentry
of the regular camp guard; bu: it is custom
ary for three or four men to be put on one
| station with orders to relieve each other at
their mutual pleasure, taking care only that
one of the three or four is always wide awake
and rendering requisite service-the others
sleeping. reading, playing cards, or
doing anything else that they please, accord
ing to the hour and the weather. Five davs
is the usual period for detachment of pick
cts to remain on duty, and three pickets is
the average number to each post, so that
while one is on duty his two comrades NAV
be at leisure, each thus having two hours of
service TO four hours of rest. 1t is found
that line Of solitary pickets is not SO Ser
vlceable as one of groups, probably because
solitude is not the normal condition Of the
biped under discussion. One picket no SOON
er finds himself alone, in "dense midnight" ;"
on a lonely post, than he abstractedly swal-
lows tobacco juice in such quantities as to
make himself sick. while another. under the
same circumstances. incontinently bolts the
ratlons of himself and comrades for several
DAYS. Still others are so reckless as to seek
sheltered and secret place, and go to sleep.
For these and similar reasons, it is customa-
ry to post pickets in twos,or in larger groups,
according TO the exigencies of the case
TIE DRAMA OF PICKETING OPENS.
We will suppose that We are moving a.
mong the advanced posts of our army in Vir-
glnia, a sarior with the outposts Of Gen Nc
Calls division, for it matters little where We
place ourselves as regards the duties or ad-
ventures We shall witness. The time is ev-
ening-a c)ld, wintry night, when the skv is
overcast by eaden canopy of clouds, and
when thin crust of sleet and snow covers
the face of the earth and whitens the forest.
The Eour is ten o'clock. when the silence of
the sleeping armies seems in keeping with
the desoiation OF nature, and when the picket
can ardy distinguish the forms of his foes
from the unreal beings of his apprehension.
Here we are, far away from the lights which
make the city living and pleasant in even its
sleepiest moments-tar away from the world
OF peace, and all its comforts and blessings,
ard suddenly ushered upon the stern labors
and repulsive realities of world of war -
Here We are, mile or two in advance of the
tents Of the advance brigade of General Nc
Calls division, and all around US is silent
and desolate-all silent save the wind and
even that is voice of desolation-its sighing
seeming at once requiem for the past and a
moan for the red-winged hours that aIe
coming.
THE PICKET On DUTY.
We are not alone in this sullen empire OF
night. Wonder, away by that old oak Which
rears its branches markedly toward heaven, is
figure in human form, which moves slowly
to and fro. AS We draw nearer We can see a
comrade fifty rods to his rear, with the aid o.
our reconnoiterng night-glass, and another
comrade the same distance in front, SO that
We need have no difficulty in comprehending
that they belong to a line of pckets which
stretches far away from the approache,
of Leesburg to the shore Of the Potomac be
low Alexandria, line of outposts averaging
from one to three miles in advance of thos,
/ white tents which render still whittier tn,
| snow-clad plains of Virginia. The man W,