Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-02-12
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For the Journal.
A CONSCRIPTS LETTER.--No.6 8.
CAMP NEAR BRANDY STATION, Va, !
January, 1864.


WTO-y alsFInT0 V0W0T :,
h more independent or exercises greater sway Tor the
time being than a simple private soldier stationed HE
beat with an In front Darkness wells sll dstno
tons and he u obliged 10 know his officers or
comrades, or the commanding general, or the highest
othce In the land only through the Of the
tersgn With musket loaded and capped, he walks his
rounds having 10 do with matters only Of life and death
and At the time. clothed with absolute powe II
Is position of fearful Importance and responsibility.
and one that always makes feel solemn aud terribly
earnest Often, too, these posts are In thick woods,
wherc the soldier stands alone, cut OF from camp cut
Of from his fellows subject only % the harfassngs Of
his Imagination and Of fears The shadows deepen
into nky night, all objects around him; the little
birds that his companions during the day gath
cred within the curtains Of hushed rcpose but the SOL
der with every nerve and faculty Of his mind strained
80 the utmost tcnon Of keenness aud senshy speaks
only in low whispers, his fingers lightning round the
sound o. approaching footsteps in the absence Of
danger ooks longngy up 70 the cold graysky, with s
wealth Of son flaming stars"
The above is the ideal of picketing given
by one who bad seen service. as his own ex-
perience. Although I acknowledge their
truth, cannot say that | have ever been
wrought up to that sublimity of feeling which
would produce thoughts OF corresponding
nature. The more immediate wants of tho
soldier-the events which transpire around
him-his comforts and discomforts, after the
novelty of the thing is gone, usually occupy
his mind to the exclusion Of ideas Of more
abstract and elevated character. In cold or
stormy weather he associates with the mem
ton Of picketing, recollections of the tenn
porsry loss of dearly purchased comforts in
camp, too short but tiresome marches through
toe mud or over rough-frozen ground-long
dull hours on post, nights of exposure on
the support When sleep only comes by snatch
es, and perhaps it is the part of prudence not
to sleep at all, while severe cold, possibly,
fever and season in the hospital terminate
the vista, or when the weather is favorable, a
few days of comparative freedom from military
discipline, and rest from camp duties. do
not know the exact distance of the picket
line from our camp; it is variopsly estimated
by the boys who are called out the generality
thinking it about three or four miles. proba-
bly, three and one-half is correct estimate.
A detail Of four privates is made from each
company in the regiment for three days
they are notified in the evening, and the next
morting at S o'clock are marched to the re-.
lief of those previously detailed. Your cor
respondent can tell but little of picket life
from actual experience, having been detailed
but three times, and only once on three days
picket. As his turn drew near, some feelings
of an unpleasant character in prospect of a
disagreeable duty with which he was as yet
but lit;le acquainted very naturally presented
themselves, but both the dictates of wisdom
and the desire of happiness requiring that
they should not be entertained, they we're
promptly dismissed. In due time the Orderly
appeared at the door of my tent with the
words, picket at s o'clock, tomorrow morn
ing, three days rations," and then closing
the door, went on TO notify others. |, a.
once, packed enough for three days in my
hsversack and knapsack, little more perhaps
than Uncle Sans allowance, of eleven hard.
taoks and piece of beef or pork per day
In the morning | was up earlier than usual
and after cooking and eating my breakfast
folding and packing a rubber and wooler
blanket inside my knapsack. and strapping
my overcoat on the top, was ready for the
order, picket fall in" A new soldier
though less efficient, is usually more faithful
and conscientious than one who has seen
more service, at least he has a more nervous
apprehension Of being behind in any duty
AT the command aud another were in the
street" hurry up, men, brought out q
third, but the fourth man did not appear
'come, hurry up, hurry up" said the Orderly
"Im in a terrible hurry" "Id like to know
who's in bigger hurry than ]" was the re-
ply. "Stop your fooling and come along,
said the Orderly. "Come along guess
shall pack up first, If it takes from now I'll
next Thursday, said the soldier, who did no
intend to be cheated out of his sleep, break
fast and necessary provisions, or be left be.
hind, as he came out of his tent fully aocou-
tered and tell in with the rest We ther
joined those detailed from other companies
/ in fronf Of tho CoIouolia tant con,a N a front
counted off by twos, and at the command
fright face, march," took our places and
marched to the brigade headquarters where
we were joined by details from other regi-
ments, and then proceeded to the picket line
Arriving at our place of destination,ss many o
us as were needed we're left in companies Of
four at the different posts; from each pos,
vdette is sent out who is relieved by anoth.
er after standing two hours. The vidette i:
instructed to allow no one to cross the lineI
without pass, except the officer Of the day
and TO salute commissioned officers. While
walking my beat but one event occurred to at
tract my attontion--then tho command "Sen
tinel, face to the front, and stand to attention
with shouldered arms" aroused me from I
reverie to make the customary salute to thu
officer of the day accompanied by a captain
as they rode past. THAT will do, sir" sait
the captain, as soon as the order was obeyed
and ! resumed my walk. On post my tim,
was occupied cutting wood for the fire ant
peeling hickory stick for tent broom
After remaining at the post "a hours. W,
were relieved and went back to the support
where we passed the remainder Of the tim
/ for which we were detailed. At the support
whore the reserves are assembled, one has
better opportunity for forming acquaintance
from other companies and regiments and o
seeing hem in their intercourse with one an
other, than in camp where his circle OF ac
quaintances does not extend much beyond hi
own company. Here the different classes o
men who compose the army are we'll repre-
sented, and he meets with some serving in tn
ranks. or as commissioned and non-commis
stoned officers, of good or superior abilities
and in their conversation eyincing more or los
cultivation of mind. There too are those jus
emerging from boyhood-some just oommenc
ing soldiers life and others who have bee
with the army since its organization and tho
hardly out of their teens, may justly CLAIM
the title Of veteran soldiers--asSociated wit
grey haired men already past the prime Of life
almost invariably fine looking, fine appearing
intelligent men, some having received thei
carly training in schools, others supplying th
lack of book learning by native shrewdness
I observation and that experience in life wit