Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-11-21

lines to fire at each other on the slight
est provocation, q custom afterwards
wisely abolished, to the relief of ALL
But at the period of which write, not
content with remaining at their posts
at night, the men would 60 beyond
them and seek q shot by stealth at the
enemy, so that picket duty was not
only severe, but dangerous.
"One night in September the post
taken by the writer and two others was
in an old field. The northern post was
less than half mile away, in a long
line of woods. We were given many
hints by those we relieved and told
that one of our men was killed the
night before; that we could not be too
careful, for his slayer had approached
the post on all tours like hog; and as
may be supposed, we determined to
keep a sharp lookout with eyes and
ears.
"The night was dark and wet, and
we began work by stretching blanket
across q little framework and lying
face downward, with our guns ready
cooked. We lay thus till we'll toward
midnight, when my companions fell
asleep. could hear their regular res
piration, and determined 1 would not
follow their example.
Suddenly I heard a noise in the
tall thick grass in front. l almost
stopped breathing, no that 1 might
hear the better. Yes. heard it again !!
The thick dry grass seemed now and
then to crackle, and presently
thought heard the grunt of a hog.
MY ears were open to tho least
sound. There it was again, the same
low grunt, but nearer. I felt sure it
was a Northern soldier, not an animal,
from whom the sound proceeded.
Should awaken my companions, or
how must l act? They might do the
very thing the fellow wished and tell
him where to fire. This clearly would
not do.
with cold chills chasing each other
down my back, I grasped my gun, al
ready cooked, and waited. Now l
could hear the Northerner as he eau
tiously crept through the tangled
grass; then l heard a grunt not dozen
yards off. Strange to say, was not
trembling as l had been. I looked
fxedly ahead. thought could count
the stems of the long grass as they
parted to the coming feet, and there
was the enemy ON all fours, right in
front! Bang went tho old musket, and
up jumped my thoroughly awakened
comrades with What is it ? on the lips
of both.
"In whisper told them all 1 knew
and for the rest of that night three
pairs Of eyes were never closed. Not
sound came from the front. All was
quiet as the grave. Had l killed the
Northerner and would his companions
come to see after him? These and a
thousand other questions kept me
busy till daylight, the first break of
which revealed to me dead BODY not
dozen yards off.
what lucky escape We had had
But we must remove the victim, so
one of my comrades crawled out, while
we watched his every movement with
gun al shoulder.
What's that you say, John? "A
hog !? were the whispered words.
Yes, it is q hog, and no Yankeev
came back the reply. And SO 1t was.
That night, when relieved, we took
the porker to camp on our shoulders.
1t was some days before / recovered
from the double scare and the Jokes
and laughs of my companions, but the
addition to our supplies was q most
Welcome one."-Waverly Magazine.
Corporal Punishment.
A vary ANN ain o. snc;dork nccuv.1 -