The Grand Haven news., 1865-05-10
A pICKETs ADVENTURE.

| <Ab WV OSiOth WOO oaoeAOHON os s'l
post. 1t was solitary one in the heart
Of a dense wood, just where two paths in-
tersected each other. The thick masses
of shrubbery on each side of me would
have afforded excellent shelter for an epe-
my, should they have taken it into their
heads to disturb me. This, however, did
not occur at that time, and at four o'clock
| was relieved.
A rest of four hours, and at eight
o'clock was again on duty. Darkness
gathered around me, and all objects be-
came iodisiinct. The wind rose and
sighed through the tall trees and the
hooting of the owl fell dismally upon my
ears. With my gun upon my shoulder |
paced TO and fro in that solitary Virginia
forest, peering keenly through the dark
ness now and then, to see if could dis
cover anything. Once or twice fancied
| could hear suspicious rustling in the
shrubbery on my right, but as the noises
were not repeated, came 10 the concu-
sion that they were caused bv some bird
or animal. Nevertheless, resolved to be
on my guard, and kept my finger upon
the trigger the whole time. All at once
/ felt an indefnable sensation creeping
over me-a sort of shudder which pervad-
ed my whole frame. 1t was a feeling
which in all my lifetime / remember to
have experienced once before, and that
was upon the sperm whaling ground,
whea l saw the ponderous fiukes of one
of these monsters suspended over me, and
about to descend upon my head.
! While l was still'bnder the influence
of this feeling, flood of silvery light
shot across my path and lay quivering
on the ground. This caused me to look
up, and through au opening in the
branches of tall tree which extended
over me, saw the full moon Just emerg-
ing from behind heavy cloud, by which
it had hitherto been obscured.v But an
other sight, decided unpleasant one, and
calculated TO operate disagreeably upon
the nerves-met my vision. This was
nothing less than the glistening barrel of
a long rifle, pointed directly toward me,
from the branches of the tree. | could
see nothing but the rifle, as the figure
that held il was entirely shrouded from
sight by the leaves. The recollection of
the noise which | had heard 10 the shrub
berry now flashed across my mind. The
secessionist managed to elude my vigi-
lance, and scale the tree in the darkness.
The best could do now was to bring my
musket to my shoulder as quickly as pos
sible, and at the same time cal! to the
corporal Of the guards. But before cod
perform the first of these movements, the
rifle was discharged, and l heard the
wbizsng sound Of bullet as it passed
within an inch Of my temple. The next
moment saw "A dark figure descending
the tree with an alertness which showed
him to be possessed of an active frame.--
| took deliberate aim and fired. But as
| expected would be the case, owing TO
the intervening trunk of a tree, missed
him, and the Dext moment he dashed in
to the sbrubbery and was out of sight.
Ny call for the corporal of the guard
had been heard, and he made bis appear \
ance soon after.
To him | related the occurrence, and he
left me for the purpose of acquaiuting
the officer Of the guard with the circum-
stances.
He had not been gone five minutes,
when bang" went that internal rifle
again, and another shot informed me that
it had been intended for my head, but
would content itself by taking the iassel
from my red cap. The report came from
the shrubbery on my right and with my
muskct ready TO fire / rushed 10 that di-
rectiou. But nothing was to be seen and
! returned to my post, with a decidedly
r. u l. az n ~