The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-09-01
On Picket.

suppose never will forget the first
night on picket in the Chiekahominy's
swamp. had been on an outpost dur
ing the d'sy, and for fear that SINE guer-
rilis would pick me off at night had
drawn in my post. as il were--ehansed
my bsse to one a little nearer headquar-
ters. Before the Sergeant Ieft me he
yery foelishly remarked that mI1st be
very careful. ~ the swamp was fall Of
guerrillas. and they were liable to shoot
me at any time. Can yOu imagine my
feelings when left alone? Il was full
moon, and everything seemed magnified
10 double its size. l was not allowesl 10
walk about, and doubt whether I would
have dared had ! been allowed The
minutes seemed hours 10 me. II seemed
as though l could see guerrilla behind
every log and stump. was tempted to
shoot a number Of times, but should do
80 knew II would arouse the camp, and
if they came and fosind that had not
shot any gane ! would be the laughing
stock Of the whole company As the
time dragged along the moon rose higher
in the heavens and the shadows shorten
ed, but still the bushes seemed alive with
the dreaded bushwhackers. ! felt my
hair stand on end more than once A
whippoorwill had been singing for some
time near by, but all of a sudden il ceas-
al x.fba., ,,..- hair ot...,.t ,.,.. - fD,..t
II stopped singing and uttered chuck
ing noise that indicated the approach Of
something. and soon flew away. Now
the excitement was about a. high a. il
could yet and let a man live. was sure
a btshwhaeker WAS crawling up 10 me.
and expected every minute TO get hall
through me. But still would not fire
my gun. but kept il cooked in my hand,
ready for immediate use; and although
about as scared as person usually gets.
think was never - thoroughly scared
that ! couldn't shoot. What a relief it
was TO me when | heard the relief COM
ing. The guard that relieved me offered
10 give me his whole months pay il l
would stand his two hours for him. Not
any more for me just then. would not
have done il, unless abliged 10, for any
amount of money. | tell you that was
the longest two hours guard duty that
ever had the pleasure Of performing.
came ON again at two O'Clock and stood
until four. | could not sleep after going
back to the reserve the excitement had
been too great. But when had fairly
settled down on log the second time
the moon was getting low down in the
west and began 30 feel sleepy. Time
dragged along slowly, the hours seemed
never 80 long. began to feel drowsy,
but | was on an outpost, and the whole
army, perhaps, depended upon the vigi-
lance Of its pickets. / knew this. but
could not shake of the drowsy feeling.
IL would not do to get up and walk
about, as that would expose me to the
eyes of any bushwhacker that might be
prowling around. II seemed impossible
for me to keep awake; the moment my
eyes were closed | would fall 10 dreaming,
and | could with the greatest difficulty
shake off the drowsiness. even for mo-
mknt. | took off one of my suspenders
and tied il around my gun and then to
nay wrist. ! knew that when the officer
Of the guard found me asleep he would
first take my gun away and then arrest
me, and the result might be court martial
and shot for sleeping on picket. Well,
the officer of the guard found me asleep,
and coming up behind reached for my
gun. But he didn't get it. Pulling on
the suspender awoke me. II was nearly
daylight, and as had been kept on my
post half an hour over time, made him
believe was only musing, and not sleep
ing at all. | have been scared good
many times in my life, bur the night |
stood on picket in the Chickahominy
swamp was the boss CT,icago Le,iger.