Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-03-26
ASLEEP ON PICKET.


One of the greatest crimes known to
military law, is to sleep on picket duty
in time OF war, with the enemy in force
IN front. An incident of this kind came
under my observation during the late
war, which made an impression that
time can never eface, and l am satisfied
that the other parties to the incident will
ever remember the circumstance. ="
1t was in the year 1862, when our regi-
ment was attached to what was called
the "Army OF the Frontier" commanded
by General ,Our duty seemed to
guard the southern boundary of Missouri,
and prevent the rebels making inroads
into the State. Hence, our service was
made Of series of marching and coun-
termarch1ng, breaking up rebel. camp
tat one point, and another point:
and then on the march again to another
rebel camp, perhaps fifty or hundred
miles distant. But some of the boys
said that great many of our marches
were for the purpose of finding out just
how far our little army could march in q
day, merely to crafty whim of our COM
handing general. But, no matter, we
NAA SAS AAoASAAuE oAA eAC SthAC.
It was on one of these long marches OF
three days and nights that we went into
camp about 9 o'clock on a night in Oc-
tober, 1862, and in front of us, and but a
| few miles distant, was rebel force of
twelve Thousand men-a force a great
deal larger IN number than our two d.
visions.
We had hardly got liked in camp, when
an order came TO me from division head
quarters to report for picket duty with
seventy-tive men of our regiment direct
ed by the officer of the day to cur posts OF
duty, which was to guard the road to the
south, and leading to the rebel camp, re-
ceiving the countersign, and with it very
strict orders with regard to our duty and
what would be expected of us; that every
man should be prompt and efficient, and
every failure on our part should be visited
with severe punishment; and more es-
pecially should the full penalty OF mill
tary law be inflicted upon the man who
should be found sleeping on his post, and
that was DEATH! As a number Of cases of
this kind had lately been reported to the
general in command, he was. determined
to make an example of the next violation
OF duty In this line.
Fully impressed with the responsible
ity of the duty imposed upon me, I was
very particular in my orders to the men,
and knowing that they were worn out
and tired with the hard marching, I told
them that if they felt that they could
not stand guard for two hours, l would
relieve them every hour, but they said
they preferred to stald the two hours.
So made my arrangements for the night,
posted my pickets on three roads, one be-
ing the main travelled road to the rebel
camp. This being the most particular
point to guard, doubled the pickets on
it, and, after warning the men to be Wig
liant, I returned to the point where I
had fixed my headquarters for our guard.
l sat down upon q log with my army
blanket over my shoulders and tried to
rest the best 1 could, but not to sleep,as the
duties OF the situation kept me sufficient
ly wakeful. No sleep for me that night,
: as about every halt hour I made the
rounds OF the pickets to see that every
one"was doing their duty.
The long. weary hours of the night
passed away without anything to disturb
our peace, except once, about midnight,
the report OF two muskets on the main
road called for my presence there. when I
found that the guard had fired at horse
who was straying past them, and it be-
ing so dirk, they could not see what it
was, SO they thought it safe to fire.
Nothing else happened until about 8
O'Clock in the morning, when I was max
ing the rounds and was approaching the
picket on the main road, and no challenge
coming from them, thought it rather
strange. But as walked toward them,
l saw that they were both motionless and
still. One was grasplng his rifle with
both hands a little below the muzzle, and
the other leaning against a tree, and both
sound asleep, so that had to walk up
and shake them before they awoke. And
when they opened their eyes and saw me,
terror and fear wero depicted on their
faces, and the exclamation came from
their lips, "My God, Lieutenantr'
I confess it was the most trying posi-
ton / was ever placed in, in my army
experience. To report them would be
court-martlal and death; to fail to do my
duty, and lot report them, would place
me In q position where might be dis
missed from the service in disgrace if it
should be found out at headquarters; and
so l stood looking at the poor fellows,
with the sweat running off their faces,
and no doubt thinking Of home and loved
ones who were longing for their return,
and then looking in my face to see if
they could read in it what course would
take. AID they knowing If I did report
them the terrible fate that awaited them.
At last broke. the silence by asking
them what l should do in the matter, but
not a word did they utter. After talk
ing to them upon tho enormity of the
ofense, had them take q solemn oath.
that never, while we were in service of
the United States, should the matter he
spoken Of by either party, pledge to
which, of course, they gladly assented,
AndI did not report them. And if they
are still alive and should see this true
sketch, they will remember that night
on picket guard. =~sa,z =.
a Remarkable Beast-tamer.
Strange stories come from India Of the
feats performed by native mesmerizer
named BUM, whose magnetic powers sap-
pear to be found quite Irresistible by the
lower animals, upon which he exclusive
~ exerts it. He gives seances to which
tho I,hlic q "a invited fa bring all men