The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1886-08-21
IsAvEp mY ENEmY,s LIRE.
One wintsr's Night On = Picket LiHs.

attached to Confederate infantry
regiment in the Shenandoah Valley.
Sheridan harassed us some, but after
the cold weather fully set in there
was little excitement along our front.
In placing pickets entire regiments
were called to the front for \ week,
and it was about the goth Of January
that our turn came. There were cav
airy videttes ON the road by day. but
they were Withdrawn ct dark, and the
infantry pickets slone were between
camp and the enemy. The Federal
picket post opposite the point where
| stood the irst night was in the
woods and three quarters of mile
away. There was no firing either By
day or night.
Between me and the picket was al
open field, crossed by several stone
walls. About the middle Of the field
was large tree. Was given permis-
sion to walk No Tar as this tree, il |
felt it necessary to exercise, and Was
warned that would probably be shot
ii passed beyond il. Ny turn came
from ten to twelve on bitter cold
night. l tramped path about thirty
feet long ia the snow and walked 1t
for AN hsur. There vas no earthly
excuse for me to set out for the tree,
which 1 could barely make out in the
Starlight. butby and By aspirit of devil
try urged me that way. | wanted to
run little risk-to feel that q Yankee
picket was looking and listening and
making ready to fire at me if | crossed
the half way line. | got in the shadow
OF the stone wall and started out, and
when l had made half the distance |
caught sight Of some one under the
tree. While | stood and watched him
he clim bed the trunk. He couldn't do
any sharp shooting by night, and |
couldn't make out what he was after.
He came down after few minutes,
and then he mounted . large stcne
which rested under the tree. | was
wondering what his eccentric actions
could possibly mean. Then he dis.
appeared off his perch and | saw him
suspeu ded in the air. Ii was some
sne who WAS hanging himself, and it
did not take me many seconds to tray-
erse the rest OF the distance and reach
the side of blue coat who was twist
ing and kicking about in very lively
manner.
had him dswn in no time by cut
ting the rope, but II WAS no small job
to revive him. lie was more than half
dead, and I W ,rked over him for
quarter of 40 hour before he opened
his eyes and asked:
where am IT.
"You are still on earth"
"Who are youf"
"A Johnny Reb."
And didn't hang myselfln
"You tried to, out | cut you down.
II seems as If you are in an awful
hurry To be planted. Why don't you
wait to be shoti"
Well, what did he do but sit up and
begin To cry and sob like a grieved
child, and II was five minutes before
he explained.
II belong to TIL the Ohio. I got q
letter from home this afternoon, and
after l had read it | didn't want to live
any longer"
"But An old soldier shouldn't be so
Affected. Is your wife deadf"
"Worse-a hundred times worsei
She's run away with black-leg, leav-
ing my two little children to be cared
for by the town"
talked with him for quarter of an
hour, and | made him feel that he
must live for his children. The hang.
ing had weakened him a good deal
and by and By he got up, clasped my
hand like q wise, and exclaimed:
"Johnny, I'll do itl Twas coward
to think of leaving the children 10 go
to the poor house, I'm going to live
for them"
"Bully for you, Yankl Take anoth-
er sip of this and I'll be going"
He drank again from my flask;
gave my hand another grip, and as We
turned TO walk back to our posts he
called:
"Heaven bless you, old boyi I'll
let the base woman &c and try and for
get her. You've saved me to my chill
dren, and may God reward you"
thought the reward had come
when, one day in 1868, I received q
letter from Ohio from the man / cut
down that Geld night. Inclosed were
A. u