Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1863-01-08
THE POCKETS RUsE.

Private Joel Shapes, of hard working,
tough showed regiment of Vermont volunteers,
was good shot and smart soldier. He found
great satisfaction in picket duty, and hardly
came in after a days exercise in that branch of
military without having report TO make TO
his superior officer of some new work discov.
cred, some conversation overheard, some little
chance circumstances perceived, that might be
of use in gaining an advantage over the enemy.
Joel was long, lank, yellow haired fellow,
not very soldierly in speech or bearing, but of
infinitely more service than many a one of our
snug, dapper, well-looking city soldiers. lie
was frightfuly sun burned, and his coarse fea-
lures and demure, suggested good humor and
power of endurance, more than courage or dis
cipne. But there was a twinkle about his
small ey eyes, which elivened them despite
their scaniy and characterless white iashes, and
impressed the closer observer with wholesome
respect for h $ 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 Joels comrades prophesed that he
had only to behave himself, and keep on his
own way, to gain pair of epaulettes one fine
day.
He openly declared that manual labor on tie
earthworks was distasteful TO him and his Off
GERS, knowing his value at picket duty, eyinced
enough consideration for him to keep him at
that service.
The position that be liked best was on the
slope OF hill, opposite a similar slope, occu-
pied by sentinel of the Confederates. 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 sentienl there stationed learned more than
was well for our side. He accordingly harras-
Sc d and annoyed every one that showed his
head on the hillside opposite, and left several
adventurous fellows stretched on the turf, one
after another, reward for their temerity.
1t was nearly quarter of mile off, but, as
have said the long Vermonter was good
shot, and it became really dangerous for the
enemy's pickets to show themselves at all near
the forbidden hillside. They soon learned their
lesson, and very soon acted upon it.
Joel, sa un,ering down his path one fine af-
ternoon, heard sharp report, and felt the
wind Of rife bail that came wonderfully 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, where
in the sentinel could sit at ease, and expose his
head and arms only when he fired. Private
Shapes FASTENED with praiseworthy prudence
to get out Of sight, among some cedars, and
watched for some lime before quite fixing the
location OF the foeman again. Finally discov-
erng the fresh earth once more, and imagining
that he saw hat just above it, he took sho
in the direction. Up pegged tall sentinel
bare-headed, and returned the fire instantly
He had only been trying the old trick of put
ting his hat on a ramrod.
"This'll never dew" soliloquized Joel, "tha
cuss has got too good birth over yonder II
just have ter route him out" The other sent
nel's death warrant was in some sort signed
from that moment. The crafty Vermonter'
brain was at work on the problem of dislodg
ing his man hencelorth.
So long as Joel kept quiet, so did his anita
gonist but it was presumable that he could see
the batteries in process of construction, without
exposing himself for the earth taken from the
pit was carefully piled upon the side toward
Joel.
From thickel at the foot of the two hilli
however, a shot could be got lengthways of tn,
trench. and behind this strihng breastwork
TO gain the thicket, then, without being TOT
visible on the barren slope, was Joel's idea.
The next day private Shapes took with hin
a long piece of stout Irvine and a revolver
when he went out on picket duty. 1t was no
yet daylight, but the gray and indstinct ligh
of dawn had begun to pale in the east.
The sentinel, as soon as the guard passed
along, fastened to drive a smooth stake in thu
. ground, and to rest his musket over fork in
cedar tree in front Of the stake, the muzzle o
the weapon pointing in the direction of the pi
on the further slope
l. al he E.