Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-09-22
Incidents OF Picket Life,

correspondent of a Virginia paper relates The fol-
lowing incidents of TIE pickets in Lees army
Some time ago order was issued by command
ing general prohibiting desrters from the enemy
ing lines, and the pickets instructed 10 waive
Them back, apdit they did not CO. to fire upon them.-
For week after the promu cation of this order many
attempts were made by deserters to enter lines and
it amusing to their signals and signs that they
"0ll right" while boys would not understand
them. The consequence was, that in little while the
stream of deserters ceased to fow and We thought
selves rid OF such troublesome customers forever.
We held line in close proximity to the enemy the
rife pits occupied by tire pickes being in places
only fifty yards apatt but an arrangement existed pre-
venting firing by either party upon the other. During
this auisice," frequent attempts were made by the
anks to exchange papers and swap c0ee for tobacco
but orders strict, and Oic9rs alert that
portunity allowed bad the inclination prevailed to
trade with the enemy. Among the tricks resorted to
by the enemy to hold communication this: They
would write anything they desired to communicate upon
small piece of paper aud roll it ar2rod minie
grape shot and throw it across the ne One CT tbes1
missiles brought over the following:
"Jehnny-Will you trade papers with US! We
have all about the capture of the Alabama, the raid
upon Harper's Ferry, sc. Meet me hallway you
Deed not be afraid of our shooting you We can have
friendly game OF euchre end wind up with whiskey"
Johnny Reb-Is The Fifty Third Virginia still on
this line l have two friends in that regiment-got
acquainted with them while exchanging papers, and
think they are nice fellows, from appearances. Toss
No notice was paid to these communications, and
after the deserters stopped for time, gen.
erG became Cesrou3 to learn something of the enemy
motions, and Issued ORDER Offering fifteen days
tu1lough for q captured Yankee. Now, as soon as
this order was made known along our picket lines,
everybody wanted the urough, and all sorts OF tricks
were practiced to ertrap a Yankee.
Our boys commenced shaking papers and reckoning
but blue be-breast 6 smet mice" at much fond
ness expressed in q moment and failed to out of
his lie,
Some good storiis ere tod upon some Of the boys,
Two OF which remember just here.
A reb starts out with palper and pistol conceal
ej TO meet YaDkse who showed himself 10 the woods
fifty yards from our pits Getting within five steps OF
auk be presents his pistol and out IS ureDder
but just then her Yak close at hand pokes his gun
around tree and says "Swap papers, damn you, and
get you goue."' Which reD did In last time.
good one is tod of two young Chcers who wanted
a Through. One goes out unatned with paper, and
waived it for some time to entca Yank to come over,
while the other STOOD ready to rusa to his assistance
Alter awhile bury Irishman came up, and the cap
tain at once grappled him and endeaVored TO lead him
in But Irisnman was too stout and shoulderng our
splnky little captain, was walking off with him, when
up the lieutenant with pistol, and IFshman Ca
we'd in and was brought over prisoner out GeL.
Pickett sld he couldn't give THROUGH upon any such
capture as that and sent the lrlshman oack as be wan
| taken WI h arms ia bis hand.
The YaDEs toled eff OF our men, and Bdliar sent
him back By flag of truce; bit the outlaw vas not re-
cognzad land he carried The man back. However, be
afterwards turned the loose, and he came walking
in with papers, stating hon he had been goobied up
| " and snatchel IF"
Then came General Order No. 65, and we tossed
them over tie lines. In day OR two the order work
like charm, aod they rolling IN by the dzan;
We sometimes got fifteen deserieTs in one night; all
claiming protection under General Order NO 90.
We made rad on their riff pits yesterday AID cap
tured sixty prisoners Among them was an old Dutch
man. who shook at US General Order No DO aud tried
tad to tell how he claimed protectioa uodsr ds1 pro
teciop but we couldn't understand hs foreign lingo
and he bad 10 bunk With the other prisoners.
On the evening OF the 24th it was reported to Gen
era ihepas that negroes were placed In the ride pits
in his 'front.' and he once ordered his pickles to fire up
On them his produced a stampede among the coored
brethren and much confusion in the camp OF their white
associates
Reinforcements were brought up by the Yanks, and
then by General Thomas But before hostlities began
in earnest flag of truce over, asking the
of our firing contrary 10 the arrangement which had