The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-04-23
CHANGING BASE.
Experiences of the Pickets at Cold Harb,

Va iNheto az SUlN
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your
"Picket Shots of March 10 You say the
pickets left on tie line at Cold HarbOr when
Grant changed his base" should have
medals of honor No doubt the old boys OF
that detail who may chance to read your
lines will be gratified to find that some one
thinks they are entitled to special honor.
Your humble servant occupied hole in
the sand close up 10 the line of pits filled by
Johnnes. / recollect that the few bands
with the army at that time were doing their
best TO make noise to drown the sound of the
iron axles of wagons and artillery carriages.
We on picket could hear the same sounds in
front of US The rcbs were on the move as
well. But the sounds in front and rear grew
fainter toward midnight, aud soon ceased
entirely.
After n few hours, which we thought con-
tanned minutes sufficient for whole night,
we were ordered to drop directly to the Iear
and 10 assemble at n yell-known landmark.
To secure safety, we promptly executed the
first part of the order but in consequence of
darkness, removal ofztTains, and all appear
ance of encampments-o or quarters, landmarks
which we had thought TO be prominent
were hard to find. 49,
When we all were5 together the spell of
silence was broken and the embryo Major
General who as yet, was without even a
Corporaps chevr0ns had his say. The reader,
if he was n soldier at the front, knows that
on that, as ON any otliet picket detail, we had
a large percentage of fellows that could tell
you the exact'why of any military question.
We did not agree as to why we were OH this
particular detail. Sonre said that as we were
If kali IoI Lad la. nrJn
ly-Sergeants of the companies represented
had selected the poorest soldiers-those
that could be most readily spared. Others
commended none but the best would nave
been entrusted with so critical matter; that
VIC were given this job on account of the
purity Of our metal and of the confidence
reposed in us. Grant or Meade did not tell
us what they thought of it.
The officers in immediate command in
structed Us 10 keep we'll together; that the
straggler had fine chance of dying. Imagine
the tramp. dark, sultry, breeZele-s night;
the army in its movement had moved over
and pulverized the dry earth of roads and
fields until the dust s, emed to be a culver
Ing mass, smOthering and blindingus Every
body was a grayback, no matter which army
he fit into" The scanty supply of water
found on the route had been left in a sick
ening condition by the iramping of horses,
cattle and thoughtless or selfish men. But
| don't think detail made from so many
different regiments could be found 10 excel
that one in cameradarie and determination
to stick together and put up good fight.
The subscriber was somewhat hand-
capped by sore ankle, having had it
puncturtd by rebel bullet on the Sd of
June, when taking part in that brave but
useless assault by our army. had been ex
cus,d from duty as consequence of the
wound until the eve of the move of the
army. We pickets did not volunteer,
neither did we grumble. As for myself, /
did not then nor do / now, think / was i'm
posed upon unfairly, and although / would
he proud to wear medal 10 show that /
performed some duty particularly meritorl-
Gus, yet think we should look at the mat
ter in this light: To give to us or to any
other detail of men medals that did extra
hazardous service because of being detailed
in The ordinary routine of duty, would soon
cause the appearance of :" medals of honor"
to become so familiar that the wearing
would cease TO be distinction, and would
lessen the value of those already presented
for heroic service. If Of the 1000, 900 men
of the Federal army Of the civil war only
one in q thousand did an act heroic aud re-
ceive IN edal for such act, 1000 would be
wearing medals now. And many of these
were unconscious of doing more than duty
required. 81
All honor to the boys that have had
medals given themi Do not make the
honor less by making the number Of medals
greater" JACK OF CtUBs"
70