The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-10-06
The Pickct's Isuse.

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was good and sma,t soldier He found
great satisfaction in picket duty, aud hardl!
came in from days exercise in that brancl
Of military service without having a report Il
to make TO his superior officer Of some nev
rebel work discovered, some conversation over
beard, or some little chance circumstanc,
perceived, that might be Of use ip gaining al
advantage over the emmy.
Joel was long, lank, yellow haired fellow
not vary soIdiery 10 speech or bearing, but o
infinitely more service than many one of ou
snug. dapper, wellooking city eoldiers, II,
was frigbtfully suaburnt, and bis face coarse
featured and demure, suggested good humol
end power OF endurance more thad courage
or discipline. But there was twinkle abou,
his small gray eyes, which enlivoned them
despite their scanty and characterless white
lashes, and impressed the close observer with
wholesome respect for bis courage and
intelligence. His nasal voice and drswl, bis
round shoulders and fiat build could not shake
this respect so long as one kept those clear,
far seeing eyes in sight, and Joeps comrades
propbesien that be bad only to behave him
sef to keep on his o. way, to gain pair Of
epauletis one fine dav.
He openly declared that manual labor on
the Garth works was disiasteful to him, and his
officers, knowing his value at picket duty,
evinced enough consideration for him to keep
him at that service
The position be liked best was on slope
Of hill, oppisite similar slope occupied BY
sentinel Of the oonfed-rates THIS last was
quite high bit Of ground whence one might
see great deal that was going on about the
batteries further down. Joel believed that
the sentinel stationed there learned NOR THAI
was we'll for our sido.-He accordingly har
rassed amp annoyed dvery one that shhwed
his head on the hillside opposite. and left sew.
eral adventurous fellows stretched ON the turf,
one after another, as a reward for thier temer
ty.
1t was near quater Of mile of, but as /
have said, the long Vermonter was a good
shot, and it became really dangerous for the
enemy's pickets to show themselves at all
neaa the forbidden hill side. They soon
learned their lesson zane vary soon acted upon
it. Joel, sauutcrinc down this path ons fine
afternoon, heard sharp report, and felt the
wind of rifle ball that came wonderfully
neri bis head. turning quickly he saw the
smoke floating up from bank Of fresh earth
on the bill opposite. The enemy had dug a
pit wherein the picket could sit at ease and
expose bis head and arms only whsn he fred
Privhte Smaqes hastened with praiseworthy
prudence to get out of sight among some ce
ders, and wbatched some time before fixing
fhe location ofthe foeman again and imagine.
ing that he saw hat just apove it, he took
a shot in the direction. Up pegged tall
sentinel, bareheaded, aud returned the fire
instantly. He had only been trying thr old
trick of pu,tiu5 bis hat on his ramrod.
"Tbis'll never do" soliloquized Joel.
"That cuss can get tew good burth over
yonder. I'll just have 10 rouse him out"
The ether sentinel's death warrant was in
some sort signed FROM that moment. The
crafty Vermonrer's biaiu was AT work on the
problem of dislodging this man thence forth
So long 40 Joel kept quiet SO did his aGtag.
onist, but it was presu"able that he could
see the batteries in process OF construction,
without exposing himself, tor The earth taken
from the pit was carefully piled upon the side
toward Joel.
From a thIcket at the foot of the two bills,
however, q shot could be got lengthways of a
trench, and behind this trfing breastwork.
To gain the thicket, then, without being too
visible on the barren slope. was JoePs idea.
The next day private Shapes took with
him long peice of stout twine aud revolver,
when he went out on picket duty. 1t was
not yet daylight, but the grey and irdistnct
lght of dawn bad begun 10 pale in the
least.
The sentinel, as soon as the guard passed
along, FASTENED to drive smooth stake in
the ground, aud rest bis musket over fork
in cedar tree in front Of The weapon pointing
in the direction of the pit on the further
slope.
He then cooked the peicv, and fastened one
end of the cord to The trigger, beginning stealth
lily to crawl down the hill on bis hands and
knees, paying out the line as he went.
It was hazardous experiment, for the
'hicket, when he gained it, was vary sparse
and so near the point that the Confederate
gentry, had be suspected Joel'e presence there
coui hardly have failed to hit him.
Lying down. however, the Vermontar q ali.
ed sunrise, an AS ,h- shadows faded away in
mlsts Of m rning he saw the light CLEAN
upou bayopet peering from the trench of
lbe hillside
"Now for to make bin show his pictur,"
'aId JOEL.
lie pulled the sting carefully at first, until |
{ was drawn tight, and then very slight ex.
IRA jerk fired the muiket from the large cedar
rec above.
He had not calculated wrongly. As soon
Is the r'tlcnan in the pit heard this martial
alu alton from the enemy over opposite, as
le supposed, he aaised himself up to return
he fire and brought bis head and shoulders
'lainIy into sight.
The next moment be went heels oyer head
pto the trench again, with bullet from the
nerriug Colt straight through the side of the
ead.
" The parned foolw said Shapes, didn't
e know fellow might shoot off gun with
ut having hold of itp
The Confederates pickets decided thereafter
hat this position was too exposed to be profit
bly, occupied,