Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-01-30
The Picket's Ruse.

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soldier. He found great satisfaction j
picket duty, and hardly came in after
, days exercise in that branch of miIitar
without having a report to make to hi
superior officer of some new work dis
| covered, some conversation overhear9
{ some little chance circumstances per
ceived, that might be of use in gaiuini
an advantage over the enemy.
Joel was long, lank, yellow haire,
fellow, not very soldierly in speech o
bearing, but of infinitely more servic,
than many one of our snug, dapper
well looking city soldiers. He wa
frightfully sun burned, and bis coarse
features and demure looks suggested goot
humor and power of endurance, more
than courage or discipline. But there
was twinkle about his small grey eyes
which enlivened them despite their scan.
ty and characterless white Iashes, and
impressed the closer observer with a
wholesome respect for his courage and
intelligence. His nasal voice and drawl
his round shoulders and fiat build, could
not shake the respect so long as one kept
those clear, cool, far seeing eyes in sight
and JoePs comrades prophesed that he
had only to behave himself and keep on
his own way, to gain pair of epauletles
one fine day.
He openly declared that manual labor
on the earthworks was datasteful to him ;
and his officers, knowing his value at
picket duty, evinced enough considera-
tion for him to keep him at that service.
The position that he liked best was on
the slope of a hill, opposite similar
slope, occupied by sentinel of the Con-
tederates. This last was quite high bit
of ground whence one might see great
deal that was going on about the bate
ries further down. Joel believed that the
sentinel there stationed learned more
than was well for our side. He accord
ingly harrassed and annoyed every one
that showed his head on the hillside op-
posite, and left several adventurous feI-
lows stretched on the turf, one after an
other, reward for their temerity.
1t was nearly quarter of mile off,
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 near the forbidden hill
side. They soon learned their lesson,
and very soon acted upon ii.
Joel, sauntering down bis path one fine
afternoon, heard sharp report, and felt
the wind of a rifle ball that came won
derfully near his head. Turning quickly
he saw the smoke floating up from pile
of fresh earth on the hill opposite. The
enemy had dug pit, wherein the senti-
mel could sit at ease, and expose his head
and arms only when he fired. Private
Shapes FASTENED with praiseworthy pru-
denee to get out Of sight, among some
cedars, and watched for some time before
quite fixing the location of the foeman
again. Finally discovering the fresh
earth once more, and imagining that he
saw hat just above it, he took shot in
the direction. He had only been trying
the old trick of putting his hat on ram
rod.
This'll never dew" soliloquized Joel,
" that cuss has got too good a berth over
yonder. I'll just have ter. rout him out"
The other sentiners death warrant was
in some sort signed from that moment.-
The crafty Vermonter's brain was at
work on the problem of dislodging his
man henceforth.
So long as Joel kept quiet, so did his
but it was presumable that
he could see the batteries in process of
without exposing himself,
or the earth taken from the pit was care
ully piled upon the side toward Joel.
From thicket at the foot of the two
lills, however, a shot could be got length
Ways of the trench, and behind this tri-
ling breastwork. To gain the thioket,
hen, without being too visible on the
'arren slope, was Joel's next idea. i