Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-08-09
tflisGrIlanp.
Life in the Trenches.

correspondent Of the Philadelphia Pres,
gives the following interesting sketch Of life in
the trenches:
Humboldt once said that the most exciting
life that one would lead would be to cross from
peak to peak Of the Alp, on a c0rie eiasi,gue, and
keep il up from day to day. That, indeed, would
be dangerous mode of life, but | question
whether il would be more exciting than that
which is every day experienced BY our gallant
boys 10 the rhs-piis. They take their position
in the darkness Of he night, when thr keen eye
Of the rebel cannot pierce through the misls
between the lines The enemy raise their heads
above their works, but they can see nothing, can
hear nothing, save the occasional sound Of dis
charged rifle Our men peer over the breast
work, but cannot see living thing This is the
hour for satiouing men in the trenches Both
rebels and Federals covered by the thick dark.
ness that wells them are, for the moment, com
paratiyely friendly--not OF their own wish, but
made so by the nterpositlon OF Nature.
Silently and cautiously our men move down to
their positions, each one is stationed where the
judgment Of his commanding officer sees proper
to place him, and he accordingly at once makes
himself at home. The hole, perhaps, is not large
enough to accommodate him. Taking out bis
cooking utensils, he begins with his spoon to
loosen the earth around his body, and then with
his stew-pan he shoyes il out and throws il upon
the top Of bis breastwork. lie works out for
himself friendly orhce to screen him from any
desultory shell that might wish TO disturb his
new home. This be eXcayates at a declining
angle Of fortyfye degrees; when this is finished
the officers give him bis ordersj and all are com
I o, 4 a, =. l.
position, aud now he is left all alone. A thick
ridge OF earth, running at right angles to The
breastwork, lorbds glance at his neighbor, but
be can talk and be heard with distinetness. lie
expects hot day, and accordingly raises above
his head small sheet Of Shelter-tent for pro.
lection the gray dawn of early morning has
given the enemy "slght and a bullet whistles
near bis head, reminuing him ttat he must beware
OF exposure. Working with more oautiousness,
he arranges his shade cover and is glorying in
his constructive ability, from the exercise OF which
he expects some little comfort, when another
bullet, with terrible precision, cuts the cord which
bound the tent to It's stake, and it fails to the
earth. That was a plunge shot, and he knows
that one OF those deedly sharpshooters is watch
ing his movements from the cover of some near
tree. 10 more fully impress his mind of this
supposluon, he raises his cap gently above the
work IN a second Of time bullet from the same
direction striking II sends it spinning on its axis,
/ Day has now been ushered in and it behooyes
| him to beware OF his situation, and not expose
himself to the unerrng aim of the enemy's rifle.
/ The sun pours down with the most deadly heat.
/ Still, he cannot moyej he must lie watching lis
opportunity, as best be can, to lessen the number
OF his oouutrys foe. Soon he summons up his
courage, which the sun, more than the enemy
had well nigh driven from him, and he creep.
toward the opening OF his rifle-pit. Then come,
an event which, in one case at least, actually oc
Cured lie espies rebel cautiously pushing
his why from tree to tree his movements betral
his purpose, which is to ascend tall pine thai
commands measured view Of our lines. lie
gains the tree, and upon the opposite side b,
proceeds cautiously to raise himself just as b,
reaches cross-bough Of the pine, aud is about Il
move out upon it, the Union boy sees his ex
posure, and his only opportunity TO take ad
vantage, pulls his trigger and the gaunt rebe
falls headlong from that limb dead upon ta'
, ground below. And there lays that body unit
.he shades Of night give opportunity for its re
moya. Toward that point at dusk are aimed
score Of rifles, and at different hours throughou
the night yolleys are fred in It's direction. PEI
r haps the morning ligh, will reveal the dta
j., bodies OF score Of rebels who had attempted /
3" bring in the form Of their departed conrad,
J, So goes the days, so the nights, OF those
J l-enches life full Of danger and crowded wit
incidents"