The National tribune., 1886-04-15
TALES AT THE PICKET-FIRE.



River daring the early Spring of 1853 WAS
amusing and often pleasant, as vel as some
times Wydr:sonie. eGcItinr, a"3 dangerous
Many a WIr-WOru veteran can truthiH'ly mar
rate Anecdotes Of villa adventure in which he
participated while in the IJ.il..l performance
OF such duty. Hiyouacsin- frequently in the
o,oI AT exposed 10 TIE cold, rude winds and
the peIting storms OF rain, eno"- and sleet was
70 desirable situation, a numerous broken
down and 3chi.itataG soldiers C.n attest. Rude
aud simple huts vanstruc'g! Of ToUsh logs and
brush. with the huge crcvie-S pl-styr"t thiCkly
with the red, salyy mud, afforded but poor
shelter from iuclcmcnt weather. yet they were
preferable 20 the op"n air at that season OF the
year.
Various kinds Of amusement were in vogue,
but the mos! prominent were poker and eucher.
Storytelling was considered by macy to be su-
pcrior to every other species of enjoyment, and
accordingly many were related, few of which
l purpose to re, eat. The collection is mis"cl-
lancous, hut may serve TO give instruction to
the reader upon certain phases Of soldiers
life.
On dark and stormy night in the month Of
February the guard, consisting Of - stout SOL
iicrS, representing nearly rs many regiments,
were seated around the blazing rcket-firc,
closely wrapped il their Overcoats and blank
els. Tho bleak and piercing wind blew power
fully, whir:ing the rain drops and the flames
and sGloke Of the fire in dull edlic5 about their
heads. AEar off III tho gloomy darkness, be-
You'd the boiling, rushing river, cleaned the
rebel p;cilct fires. The merits of \ late con-
versatiou between two OF the opposing piCkets
had been lcngthiiy discussed and commented
upon and at last the thorough -dranChed vet
Grams became oppressed with drowsincss, and
perccpti5le mods could be distinctly seen. Anon
one aroused himself, grOanod, pOled the fire,
dipped therein his laHrel-root pipe, and, prepar
NJ IN narcotic Influence stirred
his nearest C0mrade With the bait CT his mus
ket and hoarsejy CALCULATED: Come, you lab
berly Dutchnan, cease snoring; turn out aud
pay for y0lr lodEings!" The soldier thus &C
costcd, lazly raised his head, yawned, glanced
at the disturber Of his slumbers, and replied:
"Yaw, Mineheer."
You are a Strengthening disciple of sour
krout" laughed the FIRST, vino was designated
as Kris" "Sccms to me- he continued,
lyon are all terribly drowsy tonight. Why
in the deuce don't you wake up and smoke.
Likely as rot the rcbs will pounce en- us before
midnight and we ought not to he caught nap
ping It's most time to relieve Stearns, and
he'll be swearin' mad il no arc not precisely
on the dot. Come boys, wake UP and let's
have story before the relief departs" All
aroused themselves, and at the suggestion of q
burly Irshman drew lots to determine who
should narrato the wished-for tale The lot
fell upon a member of the til Pa, and after
repenishng his guild and making numerous
excuses rs to his inability to interest them, he
proceeded as follows:
THE SCOUTS ADVENTURE.
81 shall tell you of a little adventure once
had IN Tennessee just previous to the bloody
battle of Pittsburg Landing The General
commanding the brigade sent ~ our Colonel
requesting bold, prudent and sagacious man
to be sent to his headquarters for special duty
The detail was made and i was tho unfortur-
ate one called upon TO perform the task. In
compliance with the order l reported as de-
sired, and was ushered into the naughty pres
ence of Brig Gen. c.. He scowlingly scru-
tinted me, and as did not appear abashed or
disconnected, the whitening frown became dis
pelied and he smilingly inquired If / felt pre-
pared for an arduous task. l replied that |
considered myself amply competent and will
ling to perform any duty compatible to a pri-
vate soldier. He thanked me profusely, then
told me was expected to penetrate the enemys
lines and obtain correct information relative
to the number and proposed destination of
blood thirsty band Of guerrillas encamped
some 40 miles away. Rumors were prevalent
that they numbered 1000, and they were
shortly to proceed upon maraudng e1pedl-
ton TO destroy the property OF all Unionists
and impress them into the Confederate service.
procuring suitable clothes and weapons l
set ont on my dangerous mission. But little
tants, as for two days I saw less than
half a dozen persons. On the night of the
second day the sun sank into dense mass of
sable clouds, and | noticed unmistakable signs
OF heavy storm. fastening onward to reach
the shelter of thick wood nearly two miles
distant, | approached unawares dilapidated
log cabin. Quickly concealing myself in
hazel thicket, / cautiously scanned the sur
roundings, and soon arrived ut the satisfactory
conclusion that the hut was uninhabited.
When ! reached the rude dwelling found my
suTmiseS were correct. No evidence of its
having been recently occupied were visible, and
ascending to the attic l made preparations to
spend a comfortable night, providing the i'm
pending rain did not beat through the decayed
thatch.
Lying down in one corner Of the chamber
/ soon became oblivious of all danger and
dreamed sweetly of home and friends. II must
have been past midnight when | was awakened
by loud confusion in the room beneath.
Peering down through the floor, which was
of loose slabs, my gaze fell upon 20 of
the toughest, hardest-looking Johnnies / ever
saw. In their midst stood q Union COLDER,
whom they were endeavoring to mako drink
from g canteen. You shall drink cried tho
leader. Drink a bumper to JEFF Davis
Drink, or by - we will hang you TO the raft
era of this old shanty!'
$50 help nee God' answered the athletic |
prisoner, L Will not urlnE VII you unDlnu my
hands
"Loose the id Yankees bandsv COM
manded the officer, and then if be refuses to
taste the whisky run him up instantly
" The glazing blaze OF the fire burning upon |
the hearth illuminated the fendish counte-
nances Of those beneath me, gathered in RI |
excited cluster about the fearless prisoner. AS |
one released his hands another passed the can |
teen, and with loud curse babe him drink |
the vessel with both hands he raised |
it above his head, and | expected to see him |
speech he obstinate and brave as we'll |
as q muscular man; ono who dared do des- |
pcrate deed, though the consequences were dis |
tinctly before him. Riveting his gaze upon the |
long haired loader, he exclaimed:
90 Black hearted and damnable traitor, do |
you fatter yourself that I, Ben. Maynard, a |
soldier OF the TIL H. true patriot and |
stanch hater Of rebels and secession, will be-
mean myself enough to drink health to that |
villain JEFF Davis? / defy him
and you, and call upon the shade of my father
to see 1t so recorded upon the scroll of heaven |
" For an instant the Captain guaied and his
followers shrunlI in fear and dismay. With a
gesture OF the deepest rage, combined with fear,
the former drew his pistol, but ere he had suf-
fcielt time to execute his fcndish designs a
thought occurred to ME, and | acted upon it. | |
uttered a hollow, sepulchral Ia! ha! ha!'
Then in loud, hoarse tones calculated Thy
days are numbered. Wherever thou goest will
q fierce and bloody vengeance, coupled with
the bitter writhing curse of God, follow thee.