Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-12-30
A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE
Between the Picket Lines In Front OF
CHATTANOOGA.
W'rit!sn J0T the Sunday Regis'er.

| late unpleasantness is chapter from real
life. 1t is the experience Of a gentleman
we'll known to the citizens of Wheeling,
and who performed the full measure of his
duty On tie battle field. He has wfitten
this britf story for the readers of the
REGISTER, aud no doubt it will be Rad by
many with unusual interest:
In the early part of November, 1853. the
Army of the Cumberland, then under the
command CT that dsuntless and impertur-
babIe old soldier, General Geo. H. Thomas,
was bes iged in the town Of Chattanooga
by the Confederate forces under General
Brsx ION Brsgg.
Thomas had telegraphsd Gen. Grant at
Louisville that he would hold the place
until the last soldier perished from starya-
ton, and like every other difficult task as
sigred 70 him, he nObly fulfilled his prom
| isa. The FEDERAL army, then Numbering
perhaps 30, 900 veteran troops, occupie d the
strong redoubts and field foruicstiops that
bad partly been constructed by the Confsd-
crates lorg before the battle of Chickamau-
ga, while they we're vet in paaceahle pos
session of that strategic and historic
grOucd,
These defeusivs works had been enlarged
and very much strengthened by tie UDiOn
troops until they were regarded by the en-.
envy as being absolutely impregnable, and
Bragg never made any ssIious attempt TO
dislOdge the Army Of the Cumberland,
which though la:,ly defeated on the field
of Chicameugs, maintained So len spirit
behind its formidable eItrenchmtnts, and
week after week deftd the Confederate
commander TO sally forth and assault its
lines
During this period tie utmost caution
was exercised by the corps and division
commanders to guard against surprise,
and heavy picket lire was maintained,
extending from the base Of Lookout Noun
tain on the right to the Tennessee river on
the left, covering in crescent-shaped line,
distance Of SIX CT seven miles. The
writer was then young and experiec ced
officer in one Of the reg ments of the regu
lar brigade of the Second Division, Four
tenth Corps, and one dark and dismal
night found bimsalf charged with the re-
sponsibility of commanding the picket lire
in front of his corps. The Gordon of vi
dettes was advanced to point not far from
the foot of Missionary Ridge, and the
picket guards of the enemy were establish
ed on parallel line, and so re1r that not
over ole hundred yards interviewed between
the hostile forces. Stringent orders had
been issued prohibiting the building Of
fires on the picket line, or at the reserve
stations, and night after night the officers
and soldiers suffered intensely from expos
ure 10 the piercing cold. 1t had rained in
cessantly for nearly two weeks, and the
ground WIS saturated with water to such
an extent that it resembled a veritable
Mississippi morass. Tie pickets rarely
moved from their p, SITS, but silently stood
through the lonely watches CT the night, gsz-
ing steadiastly to tbs front, ever ready
to challenge an approaching footstep, and
give the alarm in case of sudden advance
of the enemy. On the particular night re-
terred to, the writer as stated, was detailed
for this unpleasant duty, and as he stood
in tie gathering gloom, awaiting the ap-
prosch of the field officer of the dny, his
thoughts were busy inventing way to
secure aCme protection from the cold and
penetrating rain. At length he impcovised
& meagre shelter ny shaping bis rubber
poncho into O suitable conveXity, and
awaiting under this slight cover, and lying
Gown upon the damp ground he abandoned
himself to thoughts Of home, and the COM
ioIts of civilization in the piping times OF
peace.
As midnight approached the field officer
of the DAY made his visit Of insps ctioD, and
in this Instance proved himself to be &
most gene Gus and thoughtful gentleman,
for after dismOuDtng and making proper
inquiries concerning the state OF the picket
line, he produced well filed flask, and
invited ire shivering picket captain to
take something warming" Nothing 10th
the Captain seized the vessel containing
the preciuus beverage, aid raising it TO his
lips said, Here's 10 you Colonel. How
But tell me with whom l have the
honor of drinking The field officer re-
piled, 81 am Col. Arson McCO0s, cont
handing Sd Brigade Ohio Volunteers "
Now it so happened that only few
months before this midnight meeting on
that scdden fiald, the picket captain had
been stationed at Steubenville, o, and
while there had met the beatful and ac-
complished sister of Col. McCook, and she
had kindly presented to him q small Bible,
which he afterwards carried with him IN
many campsigrs. AS result OF this incl
dent the field officer accepted an invitation
10 crawl under the shelter of the friendly
Dor cho, and for awhile the two comrades
enioyed an interesting conversation abe NJ
borce ard friends, which was interrupted
only by an occasional pull at the Co.ootIs
flssk.
Ga t,kirg his departure the Colorel ad-
monished his junior to be watchtul and
visit his picket at regular intervals to see
that they we're alert and properly perform
ing their duty. Shortly afterwards, slim
ulated by sense of duty, and perhaps a
little by the cordially of the Colonel and
the contents of his pocket flask, the Cap
tain started on his tour of inspection along
the lives. The night was intensely dark
$50 dark that one could rot distln-
puish an object if keld between the
eve AID the storm swept skies. All was
impe nstratabls darkness, and out on the
picket line reignei the silence OF the
grave. After successfully reaching Post
No. on the right of the line, the Captain
proceeded to visit the posts successively to
the left. He had not gone far when owing
10 the fact that the line made an abrupt
curve to the rear, he failed to tiud the
neighboring picket. He then attempted 10
retrsce his steps and return again TO Post
No. l. This, in the horrible darkness OF
the night proved unsuccessful, and after
cropping about for some time he finally
realized that he was lost between the
picket lines of the opposing armies, and
was liable 10 encounter picket post of the
enemy and be made a prisoner OF war. as
he was OF coming into his own lines. This
I.o--;hla bnouIed0a made him desDerste