The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-09-27
The Dangers Of Picket Duty.

An Army correspondent al Petersburg gives the
following sceouu, Of ricte.-hring under the more
energ ,tc operations recently instituted by the two
opposing armies;
When last wrote NJ our pickle, front Johnnes
aud Yanks were frs,ernzing good ns,uredly, chat
ting and swapping In practical srmistice. Now the
whole limo before us 10 under continuous tre, and
never = word passes from foe 10 foe. The videties
81 the two sides in their Close srproximsted pits do
not IRE on each other That would be 100 cold
blooded an affair, for they are little more than .
good bsyonet-thrust space apart But the videt,es
NJ each side are fired u tron the main outer orks
Of the other. that FIRE they return. and firing Is In
ccssant from man line 70 main lins. Tho vdettes
must keep themselves under close cover now. II
they in head or hand above their low earth bank.
chew" comes o bullet pan them, or 'chug" II
stops in them, to his reAei Communication with
even the company commander was ont Of the quest
ion. Theirs is . uresome work Of peril hy nigh,
and day during the t~onty -four hours Of their
relieved round. Two days since private ~ the
Tenth Connecticut in one OF the pits showed 'us
besd over its crest ius 70 his eyes. bullet
crashed through his forehead, md he fell
back blcoling and unconscious. Ills sole courade
IN the pit, who was - brave and daring .
soldier ~ could he found IN tie entire regiment
OF In I'll she army, knew that the Aitsmps " bear
his wounded mate b. the rear would ee certain
death. No stretcher corps could come. There was
nothing for the lonely watcher to do but wait And
wait he did, nine weary, dresIy hours until the
night shut in with its welcome cover. Cramped in
maj Close cray PIT, py ulo buc OF MS ul'tdlhk,
moaning, dying fellow, unable 70 IN himself for
hill change Of POSTURE helpless W give OF seek re-
hst for tie speechloSs sufferer, Ia the leh OF q
turning sun, and s,,sin in tho annoyance VI .
pouring rain, now brushing the fios IRON the up
turned, dishpTso face, tht s.yng stau.y dtopS ~
water 10 slske the wound-thirst OF he siicl en-
lie passed Tie whole OF Ii gloomy dr., lOh.n
flt the asrkness craving relief, 81 tell sou they
were long hours" he said And they No.e. Some
/ nay htus that man might have moved that day
rom Me yidt,s, pc iowa. is the maui llf.e with a
fair chsnce Of eseNps But they DOM know the
truth. Why, the snt. crown OF The low bank he
fore soIe Of III sc PITS casually cut down from
s,A 10 twelve ~ches by RE shotG On that busy day
-ehipped AWAY by r,pested bullet hits intended
/ ior the men II arely concealed The enemy had
sharp-shooters n. work, accurate shooters, too Tho
! men frC N our msin line were hriug through huo
openings In the IN, d-bag piles along the prap"t.
Inc relies could no. eco Tie men. Taty could 10 "
only irum tie pun Of snC e WI ence the shotprO'ccd-
| ed Bu, they would reply with such deadly aim
oPchinss which ", re not lsls ger than oue's hand.
Bone OF these sIeturs were 20 enlarged ny the
many bullets striking their edge that they were
| abandoned for Others. When man nIed through
one " thsn be must look through apOher n he
| would note The effect Of his shot, A soldier not
| long since who, after firing, looked through she
| same hole " follow bis ahot, had his heal loresi
| through by . return bullet. with such shooting
| man could na walk even crawl fifty yards iu
plain sight on ade hill with impunity. No one
ME alone. but hundreds would 10 aimed 1t him
On one side OF angle trcs, a an exposed portion
Of our line, not DR. nom the mouth Of the explode
| nina en- o(ncor counted upwards d two hundred
! bvliets buried IN The wool sna u was thooghs hs