The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-01-31
From Company &. Sd VI. Re.'t.
t,Nr GRNiIN. F,IElAN Co.. Va,
January -, l>Gl.

- 'N' I'f'.F ~ me fGttfOAt'v
Much has been said and written about
pickering. There is a certain novelty :.bou,
i that is not only interesting to those o,.- of
the army. bat il is 81 to those in il. As
rlcketng is condrc",! very differently from
what 1t was few weeks ago. perhaps i,
would BE- Of some interest TO The friends Of
Vernon, soldiers 20 know hn,r it j don..
Formerly. the picket dq,y was done by 4
few regiments. ard among these few was the
ID, Then they were stationed three men in
ACE. as much hidden from observation A.
possible. ana were not relieved as HOW
Each hrigad" guards lis own tro.f, that :.
the HE between them and ,h, enemy. l.
takes two hundred men in III. Vernon, Lri.
sad' t" DO is pickering. These men are ali
taken from one reg imcn. for tw.nty-tour
hours and as the.c are five regiments. !,
comes tie turn Of each unce in i've DAYS
and each mans turn once in Ten or fifteen
days. They leave their camp at o'clock in
the morning. and first 60 IL Gen Brooks.
quarters where they are inspected. They
Their march to the main Y,s,it,. which is Il
half mile inside the ou,po>ts. Here they are
divided into two relief>. and each relief into
three supports. One hundred or half of
the Whole. remain on the main reserve. while
the three supports" GO to what are some
times called the smaller reserves. Her, they
are again divided. one half to remain. while
the other half goes out and relieves the oyt
posts. The reserve and ou,posts are Gu
placed that they can have fires and be- CON.
cealed from the observation of those outside
: the lines. The outposts have beat" to
walk, the same as camp guard. which is eipb,
or ten rods in length. The line is ziyzas 50
as to give The men a chance TO see as far in
to the encmyS country as possible without,
giving the enemy chance TO creep up and
shoot them off. They are relieved. if in very
cold weather, once in an hour; if not very
cold, once in two hours. Each support is
renewed from the main reserve once in four
hours. so that each man stands guard only
SIX hours in twenty-fcur At first Thought
one would suppose that pieke,ing is not very
hard, but WHEN they consider there is no
chance to sleep, but have to sit or stand a.
round large fire when not on duty. It is no,
quite SO pleasant.
For the last month it has rained. or half
rain and snow. for nearly or quite half the
time. 1t is now the worst time TO travel
ever saw: even in the fields il is So sof, tho.
1t Is difficult for horse to trot at slow Gal.
lop. In the road about the reserves and
camps, it is mud over shoes. So bad is it q.
bout our camp that We have had to Law our
company-rounds with poles. 1t is impossi-
bic TO drill except 90 through the manual OF
arms on the company or parade grounds
Under such circumstances picketing is not
Very desirable. 10 sit around fire with the
rain pouring down, with mud six inches
deep, then to march two miles into camp
with blankets and clothes as wet IS if they
mad been thrown into brook, is anything
but agreeable. Yet it is ali done with cheer.
fulness. and the long hours pass quickly a.
way with singing songs, telling stories, crack.
ing Jokes, &c. Occasionally gun is fired
and If it is not far off all are attention until
the cause is ascertained. Most generally i,
proves an accidental shot, but i: is not ALWAYS