National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-11

In the early days OF the war in virginia
before the volunteers on either side had
settled down to work and gained some
knowledge Of the realities OF warfare
firing on pickets was common pastime,
and many poor fellow passed in his
checks under this unsoldierly and muir
derous system.
When Gen. Johnston's army was pick
citing along the lines in front Of Washing
ton, latter the first battle Of Bull Run, this |
vicious practice was in full blast, and not |
only did the pickets, when tho opposing |
lines were established within rifle range |
of each other, keep up fusillado when
ever head was shown to shoot at, but |
there were scouts on either side who |
were accustomed to creep up to some poor |
devil of picket, unsuspectng and think
ing himself we'll hidden, and shoot him
down as hunter might stalk deer. On
the confederate side the most noted scout
was ono Farley, o South Carolinian, after
ward q captain on Gen. j. Il. Il. Stuarts
Jtaff, and who was killed in the battle of
Brandy Station. He was credited with
having killed in this surreptitious way
from twenty-five to fifty men. 1t Is but
Justice to his memory to say that there
was no drawer man In o melee than he
lin the confederate army.
But after time, as il by tacit agree
I ment, the men themselves stopped this
mode of warfare which did not advance
either cause one jot or title, and which
hardly arrived at the dignity Of legalized
murder, IL the term may be used. So
that after the first year the pickets,
unless advancing for battle, were accus-
toned to lounge in full view and sh ooting
distance ofeach other without thinking Of
firing ashot. In fact, long conversations
were hold, each line good naturally
chatting their opponents. OF course.
this truce was not maintained
when tho lines were opposed closely
in what might BIO called con-
tinuous BATTLE as, for instance. at York
town and Spottsylvania Court House. AT
those places it was almost certain death
to expose the head or body above tho
breastworks, and much Of the firing was
done by thrusting the rifle with one
hand over the works and quickly with
drawing 1t. Even then the hand or FORE
arm was apt to receive bullet.
Before the second year Of the war had
closed the troops of both armies had in
spired each other with mutual respect,
and on the occasions of q truce for bury
ing the dead, as at Fredericksburg and
Antietam, they were glad to meet and
converse. IL may be said that on such
occasions the most scrupulous courtesy
was observed and If battles or campaigns
were referred to, 1t was with kindliest ex-
pressions Of reciprocal respect. The
braggart was entirely out of place ut such
interviews. By the way, Of all the expo.
riencos Of soldiers hard lot, to be de-
tailed to bury the dead is the most disa-
greeable, except to those ghoulish
natures-end there are such in every
communicative see therein q prospect of
riding the bodies of valuables. AS far as
practicable the detail from q regiment
buried its own dead. and the valuables
(there were precious few of these on dead
confederates) and mementoes taken from
the corpses were turned over to the cap
tains Of companies. or were taken in charge
by tho surviving intimate friend of the
soldier. Where the dead lay thickly and
time was pressing the bodies we're simply
covered over as they lay with q slight
mound of earth. On other occasions
trenches were dug for the bodies. and
sometimes separate graves were dug and
marked for future Identification. have
often seen bodies warm and timber cast
into the trench and covered up, and there
is not the slightest doubt that in many
instances where haste was necessary men
were buried who had only swooned from
loss OF blood. and who with proper atten-
ton might have been alive to this day.
1t was no uncommon sight after the
battle of fredericksburg to see an ambu-
lance driven along with the white flag
flying and accompanied by detachment
of bue-coated soldiers with shovels and
picks to disinter the body of some officer
or soldier who had fallen in the fight.
Frequently the widow of the dead man
sat in the ambulance in her sable weeds.
and as the cortege passed the confederate
soldiers on the roadside to man would
lift their hats in respect. Such sights
brought home to the heart and mind for
chilly the picture of sutferings that we're
being endured in homes far away from
the sights and sounds of the battlefield.
But there is bright side to every pros.
pect II we only look for it long enough
Oftentimes. when no truce was existing
the soldiers on the picket lines made one
for themselves without saying "by your
leave" to their officers. Picket duty Is
monotonous work at the best, and a little
conversation and interchange of news not
contraband with their opponents was q
welcome relief to both the blue and the
gray; but better than all this was the
Interchange of commodities which the ont
possessed and the other had not. Now
the Yanks were we'll supplied with tn,
best of coffee and sugar, while the John
MES were famine-struck for the same, bu
the latter were we'll furnished with tn,
bost of tobacco and the former wer'
famine-struck for the same. Here was
good chance for an equitable swap" On,
man from each company on the pickle
line would lay down his rifle, gatle
up his own and his comrade'
commodities in an oil-cloth blanket, ant
shouldering 1t, advance midway to NEE
his obiging opponent. Here the trad
proceeded rapidly-a pint cup of coae
and one of sugar for plug of tobacco
and as soon as the blankets had changed
contents the messengers would cordial,
shake hands and march back to their ex
pectant comrades, who had watched tn
proceedings with mouths watering. Blu
il was not only on land the pickets met
rivers could not keep them apart. Mex
in importance to the coffee, sugar, and to
bacco trade came the desire to read tn
opposing newspapers, and almost any risl
was run to make trade therein, al
though it must be said to the credit of th,
men that they always cut from the Col
umns any paragraph that might givein
formation as to the movements or proba
BILE movements of troops Either aid
would have felt contempt for man VIII
gave information hurtful to his army, an
dcserter was heartily despised.
i recollect an amusing story that wen
the rounds of the camps in the autumn {
1862 While Gen. j. b. Gordon's divisio
was picketing along the line of the Rap
dan river he became aware of the socia
bility and traffic existing among tn
pickets on the opposite banks of til
stream, and determined to break up I'll
practice. Accordingly, no had the fore
strongly guarded, with instructions
let no Yankee picket come over excel
under flag Of truce. Ono day ho WI
passing along inspecting the outpos