The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-29

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iTtll q XII ~ and no jury pro
EEN{ nounced him dead
IN wa by the hand OF
! ~ XFM1 violence my con
remorse for the
bloody deed. It was in front Of Petersburg
where the opposing works were from 90 TO
80 rods apart and the picket lines from 30
to 40. Our regiment was divided into two
battalions and occupied two fortified knolls,
called forts. belonged to the Second battal-
ion and one day had charge Of several
picket posts on the right Of the First battal-
ion, about so rods distant as the bird flies,
from the fort. But owing to the cussed-
ness Of certain bloodthirsty sharpshooters
on the Confederate side the distance was
more than half again as far-that is, in go
ing TO and from the picket line, even at
night, we were compelled for safety to steal
along the ditch behind the breastworks for
about so rods, then stoop and follow COW
cred way running zigZag toward the picket
line, which was parallel to the main works
80 rods in advance of them. Even these pre-
cautions did not insure map's life, and 1
could go now to certain spots on our brigs
ade front where officers and soldiers in
scores and hundreds were shot down while
passing on some errand of camp routine
during hours Of peace, as unsuspecting of
danger as one would be at home
The posts on my beat began at the inter
section of the covered way and the picket
line. The post nearest to the way was
headquarters for that section Of posts and
was constructed to afford shelter for several
men. 1t was made of saplings, laid above
one another. banked up on the outside with
earth. These structures, known as picket
pits, were about four feet high and were
loopholed for an outlook. Directly in front
Of the pit speak Of the Confederates had q
picket post about 40 rods distant and in
front Of that, toward our line, was q thick
ly foliaged tree-a cedar believe. That
post and tree and the tall swamp grass sur
rounding them became notorious as the
lurking spot of Confederate sharpshooter
who made it his special business to keep up
a fire ON the exposed stretches of our cover
ed way. This fellow became known by
some terrible nickname which have for
gotten, given him by our men and adopted
by his own comrades as very appropriate.
1t will be just as well IL simply call him
Grass," for we never knew
from what particular spot he would strike
his venomous blows The day speak of
is to say. by mutual agreement there was
TO be no firing on the picket line. At such
times the men of both sides walked freely
back and forth between their breastworks
and picket pits, and sworn enemies ven-
tured close enough to be able to converse
across the bloody chasm. Now and then
they met for handshaking, exchange of
newspapers, etc. These truces were unoffi-
cial, but they had the effect of stopping the
firing and making existence of soldiers in
the trenches quite endurable. At such
times the picket's duty was of course only
q nominal one. He was to remain at his
post until relieved in the regular order. It
happened that on the evening before COM
rade with whom / had served throughout
the war had returned from Andersonville
prison to the camp Of the First battalion.
Naturally was very anxious to see him,
and about noon, while the men were pass
ing back and forth freely between the lines
and there being no sign Of danger for which
pickets have to be on the lookout, strolled
leisurely to the fort.
About an hour before dusk I started to
return to my post the same way came
that is, across the open field between the
breastworks and the picket line, saving the
distance around by the covered way be-
cause IL was unnecessary. At that hour the
greater part of the men who had been visit
ing the picket lines during the afternoon
had retired to their camps for supper, but
there was no firing, and stepped off in a
natural pace quite at ease. The distance,
as have said, from the fort to my post
was about so rods. had gone about half
the distance when suddenly a rifle rang
out somewhere on the picket line, just
where I did not notice, Immediately fol-
lowed by dozens of scattering shots from
the Confederate side. Before could look
around to see what was up as many shots
were answered back from our lines. Some
of the bullets whistled uncomfortably close,
but walked on, confidently thinking it
was only an accident and that single vol
ley would be the end of it. AS was walk
ing in line otlique to our breastworks
was only about 200 feet distant from them
and more than 600 from the post where I
belonged. However, the moment shot
was fired 1t was in certain sense q signal