The National tribune., 1899-09-14
ng with it costly sacrifices, tears, gloom

and death to many a household.
Our regiment landed, after a short pas
sage down the coast, at Fort Monroe
gladly welcomed by the small garrison o
Regulars. The soldier life we expert
enced while stationed here at Old Poin
Comfort was not very hard, though W
found ourselves quite uninitiated i'll thi
new and strange life of the soldier.
We remained there about five weeks
and We're schooled in the discipline o
army duties by officers from the garrison
and also drilled daily by them. We ole
soldiers now look upon that period of on
service in the Fort as merely playing a
| war.
Our regiment was detailed about once
week for guard duty on the ramparts of thu
! fort. MOstOf us will remember how the Regll
lar officers would challenge us when on Oul
posts, and attempt to pass without giving
the cOuntersign, which they would pretent
not to have, and in this way test our firm
ness to the instructions received at guard
mounting. Occasionally we were treated
to an alarm, when the long roll would bea
and the alarm gun fire, calling US suddenly
to arms; all of which served as needed
lesson, teaching us how to be prepared t.
meet the coming realities of the service.
On May p following we took the steamer
and were landed some eight or 10 miles
from the fort, at a point on the right bank
called Newport News. We We're ordered
there partly for the purpose of checking
any force of the enemy that might adj
vance on the fort from the land side, bu
more especially to take possession of this
point of land, which was deemed an i'm.
portant one, and which proved to be OF
much value later in the war. There were
some four regiments in all ordered there
and under the command of Col. Phelps, oi
the Sth VT.
Here our duty was somewhat harder, in
the way of more drilling with musket and
spade. We threw up long line of breast
works as a defense in case of surprise,
though the enemy never troubled us in this
respect. Company drill, guard and picket
duty made up the sum of the service during
these first three months. Many pleasant
and quite laughabie incidents happened
among the boys while at Newport News,
one of which forms the pith of this remnis-
cence.
1t was my lot to be detailed for picket
guard one night while here. The out
post where the pickets were stationed was
about a half-mile from the inner line OF
camp-guard. The night previous To my
going on duty there had Teen considerable
firing by the piokets, and not having learn
ed the real cause, it may be strmised
l went to my post with not little degree
of fear and trembling, thinking that per-
hars before the morning light should again
come I might he surprised by the enemy
with result perchance, it was not pleasant
to contemplate.
There was Corporal and four men
comprising the squad. [ was placed at
the entrance of a cart-path which led into
a dense wood, and ordered to walk down
into this path some dozen rods every few
moments, and watch carefully for the ap-
Il. ..f
pass the line. The night.was pitch dark,
and the surroundings Just little lone
some, as all of us then thought. We had
also been at guard-mounting that morn
ing, and cautioned to be on the alert, as
an attack might be made by the enemy,
reported to be in the vicinity Of Big Bethel.
Ihls announcement, OF course, added
nothing to our comfort.
About midnight, while walking down
the path into the wood to recOnnoiter. /
heard the cracking of dry twigs,
but short distance from me.
as of some one cautiously approaching the
border OF the path; and you may lie sure
sound. The caution of the morn
ing had not been forgotten. | stood in
the center OF the path, some haif-doZen
rods into the woods. The breaking of the
twigs came to my ear louder and louder.
very quickly and without noise sterped
behind a large liyeoak tree which stood
close by and cooked my rife. resolved to
give the intruder its contents. and, if need
be, a few more of those compounds of
Uncle Sans | had stored in my cartridge
box.
This resolution cost me n severe effort |
as may be believed, for the rerspiration
seemed TO start from every pore of my
skin, for | then felt | must maintain my
ground. 1t would not lie brave to retreat
perhaps not very safe TO do 50. Such
were some of my thoughts as / waited
shese few but long moments for sight of
my enemy. | could now almost discern
he object of my careful watch. I slowly
,aised my rifle to my shoulder, and with my
niger almost pressing the trigger. was
about to commence the dreaded work (oh, |
What moment of intense suspense for a /!
Drayc defender of the Union and Old GloryD |
when large, live hog leaped into the open |
path with a fearless. Independent and |
satisfied grunt only few steps in advance |
If me.
The strange and mingled feeling of
surprise and relief which We're mine for |
he next few moments can be better i'm
.gined than described. When [ was re-
leved by my comrade an account of my
errible situation was related, which called
orth good laugh from us both. The
outward bravery with which | met this
test of my courage-to say moth
ng of the inward effort it cost to sustain
twas best appreciated by myself.
When on my way back to camp the next
morning | could but contemplate on the
Inference between real and unreal danger,
md also know that one could under certain
circumstances be more frightened than
lurt. learned the next day the cause of
he frequent firing by the picket the night
'revious to my being on guard. Some 20
r more of these swine, kindred to the fellow
hat had caused NE so much of anxiety
md suspense for n few moments, had been
lain by the ready picket for ventt,ring
90 near forbidden ground. They had
lot waited to see the foe before firing, as
omehow decided to do.
Whenever [ have called to mind this
Incident connected with my early army
fe it has provoke,ta smile: but the expert
nee of that eventful night on picket duty
'as not without its value in teaching me
ow TO meet more real dangers. TO which it
'as my lot to be called later in my service
AMES E. BATES, First Sergeant, Co. c,
Sth Mass, Whitman, Mass,