The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-24
Stories of the War.

- during one of our Summer CAMPAIGNS
IN Western Louisiana my regiment
chanced to~be bivouacked one night
upon an open prairie near Bayou
1eche. The regiment held the right
OF the brigade, and we were advancing
up the country. It was upon the oc. i
caslon nearest the bayou. All the
danger that could reasonably be an.
prehended was from the front. and the
picket line was therefore extended
along the whole front of the brigade
forty rods away. From the right
nank OF my regiment to the skirt of
the trees and bushes along the low
bank of the deep and narrow stream.
the distance was about the same-for-
ty or fifty rods. There was no planta.
lions in the immediate vicinity. and
between the right and the BAYOU
there were no fences nor distractions
OF any kind merely an open plain
separated us from the Teche.
l was 'OffiCer of the day.'' and of
course charged with the Supervision
OF the picket line, about midnight 7
made my second tour Of inspection on
horseback, and found the pickets all
vigilant and the situation quiet.
Nothing suspicious nor remarkable
had been seen or heard; and T rode
back to the reserve, intending to ex-
change a word with the officer on duty
there, and then report at head-quar.
tiers. The lieutenant greeted me as /
rode up and said:
81 believn you gave me orders to
picket the right flank !; but I have
made a couple of posts there about
half way between the camp and the
bayou
''It can do no harm,'' was my re.
spouse, land probably no good. Still.
the very greatest prudence might re-
quire it. l will ride over to see for
myself how you have posted them.''
''The Corporal who went with the
two men had not returned yet,'' he
said. ''He was ordered to-
clark -
The deep, solemn stiffness of the
hour and the scene was Interrupted
only by the low tones of his voice but
while listened to him my ear had de-
tected the faint, far-away sound of a
woman's voice over to the right.
''The pickett was my instant
thought. SHARK - exclaimed.
Again I heard the sound, and it was
heard now by the Lieutenant, as we'll
as by the soldiers standing near. Be-
fore another word could be spoken,
the sharp, startling report of rifle
rang out upon the night from the same
direction.
''Take arms > shouted the Lieuten-
ant; and leaving behind me the re-
serve, hurrying about and falling into
line with noise that sounded like the
buzzing of an awakened hive as left
it further behind, put spurs to my
horse and went racing like mad to-
ward the point of alarm. If an enemy
had really made an appearance in that
unexpected direction, it would require
a change of front of the whole or part
of the brigade to meet him; and in
tending to reconnoiter, and learn the
extent Of the threatened danger, l
rode on till I reached one of the flank
pickets.
"What's the trouble - demanded.
''Nothing here, sir,' was the reply.
'Jake over there, fired few minutes
ago, but guess it was false alarm.
I've seen nothing, and heard nothing
alarming but that shot,
The next minute I was with the
other picket and listening to his ex-
plauation. 1t appeared that he had
been posted but about twenty minutes,
with orders to keep a lookout toward
the bayou. Footing it back and forth
a few yards upon either hand-as
nf
in lonely and remote places-with his
rifle over his shoulder, his ear was
caught by a shutting along the ground
as of feet apparently proceeding from
a point somewhere between him and
the bayou. He stopped instantly and
bent his eyes in the direction of the
sound. The night was quite dark, and
nothing was visible at first, the SUI.
picibus noise still continued, and in a
moment more he saw what appeared
to be the head, shoulders, and arms of
a man moving along the ground direct
ly toward him.
''Halt y he shouted, bringing his
rifle to a ':guard.' ''Halt-who's
there?''
1t was the cry we had heard at the
reserve. There was no answer, but
the shutting noise continued, and
the object moved straight toward him.
''Halt y he shouted again, this time
with his gun at his shoulder. He fired
almost with the word,
The Corporal was near by on his
tour, and hurrying to the spot at the
report, reached it almost as soon as
did. We found the soldier with his
musket reloaded, standing at guard,
and peering eagerly into the darkness.
A few words from him explained the
cause of alarm, but not a thing was to
be seen: The Corporal laughed, and