The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-03-03
On Picket.

On one of the tours of picket duty dur.
ing the month of July, 1864, says a
writer in the Veterans Adrocate, we are
on post on the left of the army, neal
what is known as the "Gurley Farm, u
and am sergeant of one of the reliefs.
My line extends for couple of miles or
so, and in the centre is the Gurley man.
sion, situated On road which runs
across the lines. The enemy's lines is
just in sight in the edge of the woods in
our front, say seventy-hve yards away.
While my relief is on duty Iremain for
the most of the time near this house,
occasionally riding along the line to see
how matters are. The first day, man
from the enemy's pickets comes along
the road short distance in front of their
line and waves paper. understand
this to mean that he wants to exchange
papers, but have nothing in the news
paper line except copy of the Free
Baptist weekly paper, the Morning Star,
published at Dover, New Hampshire,
and this is more than q week old, and
not supposing he:will care for this, and
knowing it is against orders to commu-
nicate with the enemy: I at first pay no.
attention to him. But he is persistent,
and remains there. and as the man on
post wishes to 60 down and
meet him, finally give him the
paper and let him 90. The Confederate
kicks at that sort of exchange, but con-
cludcs to swap, and sends me Peters,
burg paper of the morning before, and
also kind message expressed in such a
manner that I feel that he can be trusted.
We have pleasant communication with
each other the next day, during which I
learn that the Ninth Virginia and Fifth
North Carolina regiments are on picket
duty in our front. CWemeet that North
Carolina regiment many times in the
field and on picket, and come to be
almost like old friends, although foes.)
The third morning, as my men are being
relieved, there are sounds of rapid firing
on the right of my line. The next relief
has just gone up the line and some of
my men have been relieved. Myself and
others are enjoying good hearty morn
ing wash at the pump in front of the
house, while some of my men are in the
house taking bath. We get ourselves
together as quickly as possible and ride
up there, but the firing lasts only mo-
ment, and all is quiet long before we
arrive. I find an attack has been made
on the right of my line, Jimmy Burns
captured, Tom Moore's horse shot, and
others of my line driven in, and then the
enemy had fallen back. I am pretty
mad-mad clear through. I cannot help
feeling that I am some to blame-that,
perhaps my friendly relations with the
Confederate picket have caused me to be
less careful-that he has lulled me into
feeling of security purposely that the at
tack may be better made, although there
is no reason for thus thinking. am not
happy a bit that forenoon, and am pretty
ugly the next time my relief gets on post.
Hardly are my men posted, when out
comes my Confederate friend, waving a
paper and motioning for me to come
down. think this the height of cheek,
and am strongly tempted to order my
picket to shoot at him, but that won't
do, and seeing him more than usually
anxious, I let the picket go to meet him.
When he comes back he brings me nice
little note from the Confederate, express
ing his sorrow for what occurred in the
morning, and Saying his command had
none of it, but that the regiment on their
left, which was opposite my line, had
been relieved the night before bya Texas
regiment that knew nothing about picket
duty, and they had made the attack.
Confluence is restored, and l feel better
natured toward him, but I don't get
Jimmy Burns back-that is, not until the
next winter.