Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-07-09
Talts aud Sketehes.
A DARK NIGHT ON PICKET.

L
In the midst of all this trouble, the cow,
who had been brought along, became de-
moralized, and breaking her fastenings,
rushed off through the woods, and was
irrecoverably lost With her vanished all
our pleasant anticipations of fresh milk,
and ten yards of new rope. She never
fancied me, and q few hours previous had
kicked me fiat, when | attempted to milk
her. Yet | mourned her loss.
few minutes later we heard the clat-
ter of horses hoofs, and the jingling of
a sabre, coming in the rear. Then the
vidette challenged sharply, "Who cum
I dar ?" "Division Officer of the Day." was
the response 'Halt. Division Officer of
the Day. Dsmount. Advance, and be
recognized" !" continued the sentinel. In
front of him was a broad, deep mud-pud-
die, and from the splashing we knew that
the Majors horse must be in it. 81 am in
the water" pleadedth the Major; ''you know
who am: never mind the dismounting !;
| want to see your Captain" and he start
ed his horse. "IIalt Dismount !" was
the repeated order, and the soldiers rifle
clicked There was a sudden checking of
! the horse, and the officer commenced ex-
postulating: This is all unnecessary"
when an emphatic 'DIsMOUNTn inter-
Iupted him. a flash of sheet-lightning
showed the Major dismounted, and up to
his knees in the puddle, while the black
soldier stood with his musket at aim. In
another second he would have fired.
You obey orders WELL" said the crest
fallen officer; but my new trowsers are
ruined Where is the Captain of the
picket 2"
Having ascertained the cause of the fir
| ing, which was the object of his visit, he
said, II think you had better advance all
Your posts about hundred yards, for the
enemy must now know your exact loca-
ton. Do it at once - Then, mounting
his horse, he rode off
The first duty of soldier is implicit
obedience to all orders from superiors.
must confess that had but little relish fol
this work. 1t was easy to say, advance
the posts but TO 90 stumbling around
through the woods, in a pitchy darkness
and hunt up each separate post-runnlna
the risk of an ambush, or being shot, by
mistake, by your own men bitten by moe
casins and rattlcsnakes; getting lost
scratched with briers and drenched with
the wet underbrush, or mired in the
swTmps-was difficult, dangerous, and
disagreeable in the extreme. For once, |
was tempted to disobcy orders, and risk
the consequences. But knowing the bad
effect it would have on my company-as
some had overheard the order--I decided
to make the attempt. Leaving the re-
serve in charge of the First Sergeant, |
could. 1t was nearly midnight before the
work was accomplished A dozen times
| | lost myself, and only by continually sig
| al I ,NiDi
men were alert, and nervous-ready to
fire at the least provocation. Great care
was necessary in approaching them. |
have had plenty of disagreeablc work in
my army experience, but nothing so polk
erish as this.
Hardly had reached the reserve when
the vidette in rear challenged, and soon
the Division Officer of the Day rode up
again He informed me that the troops
had all been ordered to the left, at Peters
| burg, and were then on their way thither :;
and directed that my company be gathered
in, as quickly as possible, and follow after.
! His directions were: Follow this road to
the second cross-road on the right then fol-
| low that for mile, and turn to the lett
that will take you to Prince George Court
house; keep the Courthouse Road four OF
five miles, then take croSs-road to the
left. till you reach the Jerusalem plank
road-that will take You to Petersburg
Hurry up, or the Johnies may scoop all o
your Evidently he did not mean that the
''Johnnies" should catch him, for he gal
loped off without giving me an opportuni
ty to inquire more minutely regarding the
route was to follow.
There was no help for it; and wan
dered off in the wet and darkness, and,
after nearly two hours Of stumbling about,
succeeded in assembling all the men.
The rain came down again, andlt was
with great difficulty that they could keep
together.
To the reader who is not familiar with
campaigning, it may be proper TO explain
that on marches like this, the troops march
four abreast, with the First Sergeant at
their head, the Captain by the side of the
crgeant-touching him with the right
elbow.
had wandered about so much that my
head was dizzy and confused, and had
already lost every bearing. Cautioning
the soldiers to keep together rs well as
possible, not to make any unnecessary
noise. and on no account to fire at any
thing without orders, we started on the
back track. Every little while those IN
front would pump against plht-tIee' anu
their comrades Following, unable to see,
would run against them, till the company
would be closed in mass closer than the
Tactics prescribe Then we would straight
en- out as best we could. Several times
we wandered of the road, but, after lit
tie cropping, would find it. At last the
trees were encountered so often that | be-
gan to fear that we had lost the trail
llalting, lit match, and, sheltering il
with my rubber blanket, examined the
ground. There was no sign of road
Thinking that we had wandered to the
right of it we turned to the left but hat
not gone far when we sank to our knee
in swamp, and further progress in thai
direction was stopped by thick underbrush
So we turned back, but with no better re
suit; the mire and brush seemed to be OF
every side. A dozen times we started
but, after a short tramp, would be haltet
by the underbrush. Believing that We
were travelling in circle, and completely
bewildered, ordered a halt and waiteC
for the clouds to oreak away, the rain hav
insr ceased falling The clouds were break