The National tribune., 1900-02-08
Ills EARLY SERVICE.
Picket Duty That Was Hazardous
Something Amusing.


ing Green, and remained at home until
November, 1861. AT this time Buckner
was at Bowling Green. KY. with force of
about 10000 men. Zollicoffer was at Mill
Springs with considerable force. The
nearest Union troops were at Columbia,
Ky, in Adair County.
Ny desire all Summer was 10 become a
soldier and get to the Union lines, but /
couldn't get started until late in Novem ber.
when the Confederate cavalry commenced
coming in and arresting Union men; then
/ concluded | could go. and | started with
two comrades for the Union camp. The
patrol We're the first Yankee soldiers | had
ever seem They halted us and inquired
who we were and where we We're from. We
told them. They told us they We're from
Monroe County, and close to the line. and
they belonged TO Col. Hazards 5th KY.
Cav.
We said we had made up our minds 10 join
the cavalry, and we went right on To the
regiment and enlisted next morning. In
two days l was armed and equipped and
mounted for actual service.
The third night after | enlisted went on
picket and was ordered 10 take two young
men and proceed out on the GreenVllle road
some eight or 10 miles from camp, and re-
main there over night and return to camp
next morning. This is the way We man
aged affairs at that early day. Soon after
dark We reached our position and halted in
the road opposite a dwelling house. We
got down, hitched our horses, and the three
of us stood until about 8 O'Clock shivering
in the rain.
was still fatigued by my long walk from
home and the excitement and hustle OF
camp, and / got sleepy. ! proposed 10 the
other two that if they would watch until
about l O'Clock let me go in the house,
81, was r1aar-lnI-- and SlpnD a bit, | would
stand by myself the remainder of the night.
They consented, and | was soon sound
asleep. Between 4 and o'clock in the
morning | walked up and went out to where
l supposed the boys We're and called 10
them But | received no answer except
from the horses. 1t was still very dark and
drilling | called again, but couldn't
arouse the boys. Then l went TO the
horses and found they were all right. |
commenced hunting for the boys, and
fence, both sound asleep. L awoke them.
They seemed after got them up 10 be salts
fed with what sleep they had; but realizing
what we had done drove sleep from our
eyes for the balance OF the night.
Next morning We returned to camp, but
said nothing about our experience. We
discussed the matter and concluded from
what little we had heard OF the military
rules that We had committed grave
offense, and resolved never TO let the like
occuf dSdul. L SlOtQ Will thSSC wy
many nights after that, but never did one
bf them sleep on post again;
The next evening when the picketS got
ready to start out l was close to the Ad-
jutant's place, and saw a young man
knew coming up to go on picket-his first
trick. Said I, @Tom, where are you going?"
He replied, "0n picket" / said, BE care.
full, or the rebels will get you tonight" )"
He remarked that perhaps he'd get some of
them.
1 thought no more of the matter until,
about 1 o'clock in the night, there come
runner into camp who stated that the
pickets had been killed and captured on the
Edmonston road. Immediately there was
a call for scouts TO go out, and we proceeded
tc the place of action as fast as our horses
could carry US.
When we arrived on the ground the
pickets were all gone except one man: lying
dead in the corner of fence. Ed Furger-
son dismounted, went TO him and made the
remark that he was shot in the breast. AT
the time none of us recognized who it was.
A portion of the scouts followed the
enemy till after daylight, and when we re-
turned next morning Joe Harris came to
me and said: Chris, it was poor Tom Smith
who was killed"
Irelated to the hoys the conversation that
passed between us the evening before. He
had killed several of the enemy.
The next night / went on picket on the
same road and in same place. Orders were
very strict, and a heavy picket was sent out
under a Lieutenant, with orders that no
man should sleep at the reserve post. The
Lieutenant told lis if any went TO sleep that
night he would be shot next day; but he
allowed US to build big fire at the reserve.
About 2 o'clock some of the boys gave me
room TO lie down on one OF the planks we
had there TO sit on, and in few minutes
was sound asleep. / suppose slept some
thing like an hour, when | woke up fright
ened and found my gun, pistol and saber
gone. ] sat there for some time without
nttering word, and a thousand thoughts
passed through my mind in q minute. |
finally looked the Lieutenant in the face.
The rest of the boys on the opposite side of
the fire all looked very serious-at least
/ imagined they did; then / looked out
towards the fence to see if l could see where
the officer had put my arms; they were no
where to be seen.
/ concluded I'd wait to see what they said
TO me before j asked any questions | sat IN
one position for about an hour. Finally l
noticed the Lieutenant straightcn himself
out on the plank where he was sitting.
watched him guess for about ID minutes.
then got up, walked around where he WIS.
placed my ear down close 10 his head and
found him sound asleep.
/ carefully removed his saber and pistol,
put il on, walked around 10 my former seat.
sat down, and tried 10 look as serious as
had heretofore, but couldn't feel that way.
The Lieutenant lay there till broad day
light before he awoke. He jumped up,
seemingly more frightened than had been.
looked across the fire, saw me sitting there
with his ,saber and pistol, stretched little
and said:
Boys. it's daylight Some of you go
call i'll the videt."
Soon all was in readiness. The Lieu
tenant stepped TO the corner Of the fence
where he had concealed my weapons.
picked them up, brought them TO me AID
remarked:
We'll, young man, let's change weapons.
You gotten even with me-"
/ said: According TO orders III have TO be
shot when get to camp, and am going TO
carry your pistol and saber in as evidence
against you. I'd hate awful bad to have
10 be shot by myself, but as / am going to
have company, don't mind it,
Then the boys laughed for the first time.
] carried the Lieutenant in sight Of camp
before l would exchange with him. But
neither Of us was shot, nor was anything
said about it.-CHRISTOPHER c. PARKE,
Co. c, 5th KY. Cav, Dudley, Mo.
G. A. r. Notes.
Comrade Findley l. Thomas has been