The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-02-06
VOLUME xX, NUMBER 6.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Urn MAINE R.orxrxr.l

OK PICKET, Jan. 10. 1884.
FRIEND BUrtER III hope you have not CON.
strued my long silence into forgetfulnces, or
culpable neglect. Every week-thp only an
exception-the Journal has reminded me OF my
obligation to you, and every week has brought
in various duties preventing the fllhllment 20, 9,
my promise. To-day out here on picket, wiL
pleasant like picketing, but rainy weather
takes out all tho beauties Of II, though II gives
variety. II this DO the "splce OF life, )" NO get
II frequently. The line on which We now Are,
is about feur miles from camp, and, hard work
as Il Il, to travel out here through mud and
''slosh," II breaks up the monotony OF camp:
life. Recently, however, there has been no need
has been "go into winter quarter" J" stock:
ade." "Botts' wood mustn't DO touched"
I'VE must moyo on his account" move to-
morrow morning at sunrise" "put up your
houses for winter again" and other similar sx-
pressions. and our actions have been In accor.
dance with the commands given. You can
sec Il has been strange monotony-this build.
ing, then moving and rebuilding. a.
Ihave neither table no chair. neither boz
nor stool, with which to accommodate myself
These couveniences ore not to be had In the
woods without timber, or tools to manufacture
II from the rough material-cnough OF which
there is-and to make them with. Mother Earth
kindly furnishes me with . seat, . few pine
boughs, my woolen and rubber mako me aeoft
cushion. and o huge pine, two feet In diameter.
affords back to ms seat A brother soldier
side writing to some dear and loved member Of
the home circle; on my left tough. hardy
soldier, whose brogue proclaims him son OF
the Emerald Isle" has been sleeping on the
top Of fallen pine, but, having risen 6ince my
sentence was commenced. and wiped bis eyes,
has stretched himself out on the ground; other
fellow soldiers may be seen around our camps
there are two at this post-some talking, Others
reading, this one sitting on tho ground near
the fire, that ono standing gazing" around
while others-and this term embraces any num-
ber less than three as have used II, for there
are only eleven of US, all told, here-may be
seen enjoying short nap after having partsken
of their frugal meal, II ono may be allowed to
Judge from the hoarse, and dssgrceablo sounds
proceeding from their nasal organs. Our pick.
ct camps are some threo rods behind me, before
which camp.fres are burning very slowly
This mild day does not require huge blazing
fires OF rails. A little Gre Is kept that we may
not have "to borrow brand" and that we
may bo able to do our cooking. Old.fashioned
back.logs grace our frc.places, one Of which 10
small stick cut from the butt OF hard.pins,
eighteen or twenty feet In length, and two feet
In diameter. Everything indicates camp on
the picket line-men wearing equipments, q fow
muskets with bayonets fixed standing near the
camps. or stacked In front, coats hanging up,
blankets loosely folded, knapsacks,. haver-
sacks, &c., lying, about In "beautifal dis1r.
DER" while solitary sentinel stands at bis
post out in front, keeping . good lockout
that the enemy do not surprise US, nor mako
q raid into our camp. We are on the left-per-
haps Wsst would be better-of the "mud pike"
or "pike to Fl Dorado" In the edge Of piecc
of woods. Around US Is quite q growth OF pine
intersperscd with few oak and hickory. though
In our immediate vicinity q small opening has
been cleared by the pickets telling trees for
wood. This line running across the "mud pike"
IA name well worthy the pike after storm or
thaw-extends to the Sperryville turnpike on
which was our camp at Culpepper, FROM which
we commenced our retreat In October last.
Without the line are guerrillas, reported TO be
quite thick-somctimcs, quite daring. Many
Of the citizens are guerrillas, believe, and,
though pretending to be too old to enter the
regular service, can fire muskct, WELD sa-
bre, ride q horse, and give Information, when
without our line, or whenever any move 10 msdo
BY our forces And ys these men .as.r ,sk
but refuse to take the oath Of allegiance. Oc-
casionally q few are taken they engage tho
cavalry and have slight skirmish 6re ct our
men on post, or take some who are too bold,
going without tho limo contrary to orders.
Once In while deserter comes In, and 10 tax.
en- to headquarters by q guard. Ono came In
day before yesterday, to the next post, and
gave himself up. Having served nearly thros
years In . bad cause, he has no particular do
sire to be conscripted again as soon as his timc
expires. Sometimes those VI US who are posted
near the pike, have the pleasure OF seeing fe.
males ride by on horseback. They come In, and
GO out, only when they have ''pass" from
some General, and are accompanied by guard.
0ftentimes, innocent, bcwitching women, smf-
ling gratefully and talking eharmingiy, arc
spies, and do moro harm than men can possibly
do. Many Of them think they, can claim pro-
lection and escape punishment In case they arc
detected In committing sone crime. simply be-
cause they are females, and they boldly. some
times deasntly, proclaim their strong secession
sympathies, however harshly their brascn voices
may sound to Union soldiers protecting them
and theirs. As yet, have not seen any very
handsome females. 20 ON not cdpfirafsd by
their beauty. know not how charming their
conversation may be, mover having heard much
oft, SO cannot say what effect they would have
on me, could converse with them. think,
nonsens, aside, that the people along and with.
ia the line are tired and sick Of the war. They
have seen hard times will see harder before
another harvest have lost much, and may
well wish for peace. A fcw arc hopeful, and
believe the South will yet bring the Governments
10 terms. Some arc fearful and talk most DIS
couragingly-with them all 10 doubt aud de-
spondcncy. To be sure have seen only few
with whom have engaged Ia conversation, but
I think from their appearance, and tho general
opinion expressed by deserters, that tho major.
ity In the South arc most heartily sick Of war,
aud, though they prefer to have the South rulo.
are willing to receive any proposition tending
to mako peace. and will come TO terms Per-
hsps not this year, perhaps not next. for. how.
ever severe teacher war is, some arc too OBJ.
stinate to conc to terms until they have felt tho
full force Of tho blows wc may in1ict. would
not be yindicti,e, but would seek TO treat all
with Christian kindness. Mercy should not
thwart justice. nor should crime 60 unpun-
ishcd. But every traitor seeking to destroy
heavy and destructive blows, until he stays bis
accursed hand. Those innocent Of the charge
of bringing on this war, who Acquicsced with
the leaders Of this ilfsrnal REBELLION only when
Obliged 20 to do. but still persist In ayowipg
their accession sympathies, should suffer too.
Nor should Northern traitors, vile coppsrheads.
escape. Let History record their dolngs to
their everlasting shame. Ignorant and weak.
minded men moy BE- sxcussbls, bat men OF iu-
telligence and judgment have ''no cloak for
their sins" Some Of my Northern friends
whom respect very highly, whose opinion and
judgment are generally good, but whose posi-
ton during this severe, life.or.dssth struggle
Of tho Republic has been Ear from commsnds-
BILE. and whose stand has been on the side OF
disunion and treason, as I understand thess
terms, may say NIL that talk II mere "bosh,"
''abolitionism, '"nigger worshlp,' and evil!
do well for political purposes. II so.1 would
like for them to como out, and see and he.r
what have. Then would their eyes b. OPEL:
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