Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-01-20
The First Nights Picket.
by BENJAMIN BROADWAY.

A friend Of mine who had participated soma
in the recent struggle in which cur country
was involved, narrated to me the following in
cdent, which give in bis own language as
near as can.
at was in the sumner Of 60 ,hat VOL
unteercd in o company of home guards, then
organizing in our town. Our portion Of the
country had teen considerably outraged by
sucrrillas and desperadoos, belonging particu-
larly to neither party, bu. pundeIins and
stealing on thcir own hook. Our company was
organized to protect the citizens against this
class. As is common with all raw recruits VIC
we're kept constantly ia a state Of alarm, by
various rumors Of outlaws marching 10 attack
US.
"Onc evening shall never forget was de-
tailed for pichetluty, and armed with an old
kicking mushe., loaded almost half full with
powder, paper, balls and slugs, | took my
position half mile from camp In dense
grove Of bushes
To make my situation more unenviable for
a new soldier, naturally iimid, was alone. 1t
would not do 10 refuse to perform duty, or ieien
sickness, for would tc called a coward, and
death was preferable to that.
Night came on, aud the sky was overcast
with iuk-Jlacl; clouds, while the wind howl
cd q requiem through the dense forest trees
1t was just such night that ghosts like toatalk
abroad, or evil men do evil deeds Myheart
was ready to leap to my throat q, any alarm
that might be given.
"My time was almost up when heard the
tramping Of feet approaching nc, aud nt the
same moment ancied discovered the outlines
of a horde Of dark horscmou advancing on me.
Ny situation was desperate one and knew
it; however, with tie determination Of a SOL
dicr, cried:
"llait Who goes there 2
No response, end the footsteps continued
cautiously 10 advance. Great heavens just
then could sec the elittcring Of gun barrels
and the fierce eyes Of the bearded outlaws.
"Oh mercy, mercy, ask for quarter J
cried, throwing myself on my knees before
my murlercrs. Firmly believing my last hour
had como, ] tried 10 pray, but Now II lay mo
down to sleep was the only prayer could
think Of The thought Of home, hthcr, mother
aud my past life and the wolrd TO come, rush
cd through my mind. The outlaws made no
reply, anlI fancicd saw them leyclling their
rifles at my breast.
"Seized at last with 4 determination. II dio
must, to die with the harness on, leveled
my musket at one aud fired. The report was
like thunder clap, and was kicked back
ward, about thirty feet into thorn BUSH ]
bounded to my feet as soon as | could, and ran
down the bill, shouting: TO arms on army
Of Ten thousand is on us = at tho top Of my
voice. There was some scattering done among
the raw recruits. Not more than Ten formed
line Of battle; the others took up their lines
Of march in single hle, oil In different direc-
tions.
conc man was thirty miles away next morn
lug. and another ran ten before nc discovered
that Lia only dress was a shirt md slouched bat
which ho bad picked up as he ran from bis
tcn.. Myself with eleven others, including
tlc captain, an old Mexican soldier, fortified
| ourselves in a corn-Geld The night wore o.
way withou, single guerilla making his APP
pcarancc. About sunrise We concluded 10 re-
connotre.
Advancing carefully to The grove on tip.oe,
with cooked guns, we came to the place where
| had been posted Here we paused q mo-
ment, then were again ordered forward. Our
captain parted The bushes, and there was tho
victim Of my shot poor, oh loHg-horned cor.
Her head was completely torn 10 pieces by my
double charge. treated the boys, than we
disbandel nnd all went home, concluding /
had achieved enough military glory 10 DO mo
the rest Of my lifel"