The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-11-28
Theghost of the Guard

In 1868, Hilton Head Island. South Car
olina, was the headquarters of 'the depart
ment of the South" 1t was garrisoned by
ten Thousand choice troops from seven diff.
ferent States Port Royal harbor the finest
in America, was black with masts, and Il
hundred ships &c rried the American flag.
Hilton Head proper was strongly fortified
1t contained vast stores of provisions and
untold quantities of ammunition and imple-
ments of war. The coufederates looked on
with eager eyes, naturally desiring its po
session, and therefore swarms Of spies and
pretended deserters to observe it's strength
and take note of its weak points. The land
bordering on the sea was defended by the
iron clads and some ''old line Of battle ships,
and that portion bordering on Broad River
was held by single picket line of infantry
and cavalry.
One dark stormy night picket on sol
itary post was suddenly approached by
what he thought was a human form. The
intruder was apparently powerful and
well built man, and wore a blue over-coat
He evidently did not observe the picket at
first, until the loud command 10 ''Halt J"
was given three times in succession, and
the sharp report of rifle broke the mid
night silence The flash Of the gun enabled
the picket to see the form in the blue over
coat fall heavily to the ground as if pierced
to vital part The sentinel, supposing
that force of the enemy was in his inn
mediate presence, did not leave his post
to see the effects of his shot, but, like q
good soldier, stood his ground until the
alarm brought speedy reinforcements. Hav-
iitg related TO his brother soldiers the spot
where his dead man had fallen, they lost
no time i'll examining the bushes, but,
strange to relate, nothing could be found.
After thorough search, and upon talking
the matter all over, they concluded that
the sentinel must have mistaken tree for
man, and were rather disposed to ridicule
his story: but be stoutiy persisted that he
knew his business, and wasn't fool enough
not to know the difference between man
picket was doubled for the remainder of
the night, but all remained quite until day.
AT daylight fresh survey of the suspi-
ci0us spot was made, aud the soldiers were
startled to find the footprints of a man
They suddenly believed the picket's story,
but were at a loss to know what had be-
come OF their man.
The next day different detachment
was on duty, and the same scenes were en-
acted over again, with the exception that
the form appeared at different post.
Eight nights for whole week the pick"
ct line was kept in constant commotion by
the strange visitor, and fresh attachments
were sent out from time to time, until
there was almost a continuous line Of bat
tie !; bodies of troops and scouts secured the
woods by day, and volunteers were lying in
the swamps by night IA the meantime
the footprints which the visitor invariably
left behind were measured and found in
every case to be identical i'll shape and SIZE
A company in the 10th New York reg
ineDt, hearing of the affair and the wonder
aud excitement it produced, requested to be
sent to the place for one night The men
felt sure that, whether man or devil faced
them, they would clear up the mystery.
The New Workers, after being accepted,
repaired to the line, and, in placing their
videttes the officers took the precaution to
always have at least two men at each post
and in more remote places three or four :.
All had an intense desire to be successful
aud they moved about as quietly as posi-
bic. Shortly after midnight Andrew Smith
heard stick crack in some dense bushes
few yards distant. He instantly dropped
down into the tall grass and peered out in
to the thick darkness All was still as death
| for moment, when another stick cracked
and there was rustling in the leaves lie
clutched his rifle firmly, put his finger on
the trigger, and pointed it in the threatened
direction, ready to blaze away at the first
sight of any object. Nothing appearing
Smith concluded that, after all, 1t mus
have been an alligator or some other denizen
of the forest that he heard. lie was speed
ly undeceiyed, however, for the terrible
/ form in blue stood bafofe him ere he could
think. At first Smith was almost thunder
struck but, being naturally brave man,
he Quickly recovered his self possession and
fired his gun, aiming for the breast Of the
4 form in front The object fell with deep
groap, to the ground, there was tumbling
IN the bushes for moment, aud all was still.
A dozen soldiers bounded to the spot, hui
the man in blue was gone
They were perpelxed greatly, and 1t was
the most wonderful mystery to all how the
''old blue devl'' got away. Some looked
on with fear, a few voted it . capital joke,
bet nearly all declared that Cne olu Ieio''
was cute one.
After that night no more was ever seer
or heard Of the man in blue on the picket
line.
One Sunday night the African church
at Hilton Head was crowded with colorec
J people. A negro left the church in the
midst of the services, and impelied partly
from fear and partly from love OF country
he made his way to the headquarters OF th'
general commanding. With blanchet
cheeks, he declared that his ''ole massa'
was in the church disguised as biact
man.
A squad of soldiers hurried to the church
and surprised ''ole massa" very sensibly
by placing him between file OF bayonet
and marching him TO the guard house
vigorous application OF water soou mao
his black face tolerably white. A scare
of his person resulted in finding drawing
= of the Union forts and full plans of GU