Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-03-20
From the Ncw York Mercury.
PICKET LIFE.

Not a. that old lady regarded it, who wonder
ed chow Johnny, who, when at home, was so
restless that he could never stay two minutes
in the same place, could remain two weeks
on picket; but then war does harden body
so :" And the venerable female rubbed her
self reAectively, and thought it was no won
der that Government was in debt il they
had to supply the pants expended in such
destructive duty nor as those others, whose
fond yearning after the welfare Of those most
dear to them invests such duty with an as
semblage Of torrors beside which the valley
Of the shadow Of death would seem, by COM
parison, an eligible summer retreat
Both are wrong; for picket duty is neither
immovable nor melancholy. 1t consists Of a
small detachment Of from two to twenty pick
ed men, sent out from one to three miles on
all the roads in the neighborhood li.SS4ir
be traversed by an stacking fesf
they stay, till they arlselivvg sasftn pris-
oners-two contingencies lyf4ikely to
happen-not a very comfott Prospect ap.
parently; yet to get out on picket is the
height Of soldiers ambition. Not indeed
in those localities where men do duty every
other day, scattered up and down a railroad,
as on the Baltimore ~ Ohio Railroad, nor
where they are posted in woods and swamps
as they used to do on the Peninsula. with
peremptory orders not even to slap at the
musquitos who were devouring them, for fear
Of aoquainting the enemy with their where
abouts but in good high AMI dry locality,
where there is decent road, aud the country
produces something besides burt rail fences
and Secesh shrews. Now, with the excep-
tion Of the inevitable contrsband, apparently
the only products OF Virginia, picket duty is
properly appreciated.
Change makes everything look bright; and
the smallest variation from the monotony Of
camp makes any scene small paradise in a
soldiers eye. To escape drill, guard mount
ing tattoo, and reveille, especially the latter,
who would not take the chance Of being snap
ped up by the Rebel cavalry, Besides, the
picket is lord Of all he surveys No one can
pass when he "orders up" without writ
ten permission, OF whose authenticity he is
the sole Judge.
He saith to the contraband, Go, an he 60
eth and to the master, Stop, and he stop
peth. albeit with much wrath and bad Lam
guage.
Carriages stop, while he pokes around their
interior recesses, seeking for the inebriating
cup, which, when found, is, of course, re-
turned to the camp quartermaster.
Rarely indeed is it found but say o
much enduring quartermaster, how rarely do
you ever get sight Of that which is discov
cred
Not satisfied with this guardianship over
the superior race, the picket graciously ex
tendeth his production over the inferior
Pigs learn to know and avoid him and chick
ems like uniaithful disciples following him aiar
off; for in his presence, the animal kingdom
realize the uncertainty OF human life. Not
an American soldier. fighting for his country,
would steal Heaven forbid But when the
American soldier fighting ior his country gets
posted on a dark night, and hears something
coming down the road lit may be a pig and
then again, it may not. So he gives it a
slight thrust with his bayonet, and behold
the thing dies He couldn't help it--could
hei
In addition to the other pleasing uncertain
ties of picket life, there is always strong
probability that the commissary will forget to
send your rations. So the picket, il detected
in any such little peocadillo, take high moral
grounds.
"My grub is not forthcoming" he reason
eth. Without food | shall lose strength
without strength | can't fight; Government
pays me for fighting; il don't fight, | am
cheating the Government; and, in order to
prevent any such horrible fraud on my much
swndled Uncle, have made an informal re-
QUESTION on piggy, now become pork"
And of course, this explanation is sa'isfac-
tory.
But there are other perls than these which
the pickets have to guard against To mar
time, very nice young Hessian Sergeant,
who, while in command of picket down in
Shenandoah Valley, gradually became aware
that there was very pretty girl in the habit
Of passing "quite promisouous" while he was
on post.
Very pretty girls, indeed, we're all three of
the Miss Jeffs. Dark OF hair, bright of eye,
and keen of wit, they knew the rules Of CO.
quetry from Alpha to Omega, better than they
did their prayers, and took great interest in
observing their practical effect.
The family lived just inside our lines, and
were neutral-that is TO say, that they had
two brothers with Ashby, and used 70 sell
meals, etc. (etc., in Virginia, generally means
whisky to our officers and soldiers, at about
ten times their fair value, all the while wish
ing "this horrid war would cease"
Notwithstanding their objection to the war
ITSELF it was surprising what interest they
took in the movements and condition of our
troops; indeed, the young ladies used to de-
light to talk soldier" With our officers, dis
playing 10 snch convs 51ens most wonder
full aptitude for military afIairs but then, as
they we're fond Of remprking, there was mo-
thing else to talk about nowadays.
They lived very nicely; for though Jack
son had been through the place twice. their
residence was in perfect order, while the prem
ises of their Union neighbors, to use the
mildest expression, had had spots knocked
out Of them.
Our young Sergeant's natural modesty hav-
ing been overcome with great difficulty, he
speedily became quite intimate, not to say
gallant, with the previously ly-mentioned young
lady and her sisters.
Why shouldn't he, pray? lie had not
seen white female in three months who had
not scowled or spat at him but one, and she
threw brick-a sort of thing which tn hough
amusing at first, grows tiresome by repetition;
SO that when he met a good-looking feminine
who did neither, he was fascinated.
Though he took his meals at their house
(at fifty cents each), and made himself gem
orally agreeable to the best of his ability our