The National tribune., 1900-03-22
PICKET INCIDENTS.
Waiting for tbs Black Horse Cavalry-A
Dangerous Nap on Post.

Dangerous Nap on Post.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Sketches
of boy sentinels" have reminded me OF a
bit of picket duty performed during the
early part Of the war. The regiment to
which l belonged, the 24th N. Y, left our
camp on Meridian Hill, Washington, on
the morning of July %, 1861, and crossed
the Long Bridge into Virginia. All the
way out we met stragglers Of McDowelPs S
army returning from the battle of Bull
Run.
We passed over Arlington Hights in the
drenching rain, and after going up hill and
down for few miles crossed the Loudoun 81
Hampshire Railroad at Arlington Mills,
and about a mile farther emerged from the
timber and stopped at Bailey's Crossroads,
where Cos. E and X took possession of a
blacksmith's shop, and proceeded to cook
coffee and fry meat
After supper l fixed myself rs comfort
ably as could on couple of wagon wheels
in one corner of the shop, and was
| fiattcring myself on having a good nights
sleep. when the Orderly sang out eight or 10
| names for picket, mine among them.
Pickett What's that?" asked one OF the
boys. We had not advanced that far in
| military life then.
you'll find out mighty quick" replied
the Orderly. He hustled us out of the shop
into the rain.
| Well, we marched out "a hundred of us,
| more or lesS) about a mile or so, when we
came to small frame schoolhouse. where
the reserve was established. We found a
| fire in the Old-fashioned box-stove, which
| had been made by some of the retreating
| soldiers.
| After counting us off into three reliefs, and
| the first relief being posted, the rest of us
1 j Il I
| considering the wet condition of our cloth
ing.
Finally, at II o'clock was taken to a
beech tree under which stood Joe Chiler, of
| my company.
"What arc your orders?" asked.
TO stand under this tree, keep sharp
watch in that direction (pointing towards
Fairfax Court House,, and shoot without
halting any one who comes from there"
SO there stood, with my head through
the hole in my poncho and my Enfield at
secure under my arm, the rain pelting
down on me, and my eyes in the direction
from which we were looking for the famous
Black Horse Cavalry to '.swoop" down on
us, accounts of which formidable body of
troopers had been "dinged" into our ears
by bedraggled men We had met on the way
out
l felt that our little handful of men in and
around the schoolhousc was the only de-
Tense between the victorious rebels and tie
Capital Of our country. | learned after
wards that all the roads leading out into
that country were picketed in like manner,
but not being in the confidence of the War
Office had no means of knowing that then
remained under the beech tree for two
long hours, my teeth cfiattering with cold
and will admit it-fear Could I have
been allowed to walk around it would not
have been so bad; but 10, ! must not move
Finally was relieved, and never was a
SchoolhouSe more welcome | went on the
same post again at 5 o'clock the next morn
ing. The rain had ceased and daylight
was over the face Of the earth.
Nothing had occurred during the night
to cause alarm, and at o'clock we were
withdrawn from the place and returned to
the regiment. Just before we started a
few horsemen came into sight on a rise of
ground, but soon moved lack.
The regiment retired to Arlington Mills,
where we intrenched just back of the rail
road, remaining there for II days, perform
ing picket duty to our right and left. 1t was
two days off and one day on during that
three weeks, and don't know that I ever
enjoyed myself any better in nv 81 months
of soldering than at that time.
must relate another picket incident that
occurred on the night Of July "a, Just two
days after the former experience.
Scrg't Pat Flemming, of our compsny,
took a squad of us back on the road towards
Washington, perhaps one-fourth of a mile,
then turned off into the country towards
Alexandria. He said we were TO guard
against the possibility Of spies entering our
lines. He established reserve and posted
a part of the boys, then said:
Chan, you can come with me-"
We stumbled through the oak woods
until finally we reached field Of 10 or 1 5
acres, near the center of which was q knoll
not very hgh, but rising gradually from all
sides. When We were near the highest
point he said:
Now, Chan, you lie down here Just back
across this field"
Can't walk around little to keep from
going to sleep?"
NO, not by any means. Just lie still and
keep watch, and I'll try to bring a relief
about o'clock; still, may not be able to
spare any one"
He left Inc. The night was lust warm
enough for comfort. 1 lay there peeriug
over the slight rise of ground. Ever and
anon my eyes would close, to be wrenched
open again. Now and then a mllsketo
would whisper the countersign in my ear
and pass on. Then some other insect
would chirrup soothing melody that
would send me nearly To the land of dream ms
How long this lasted cannot say, and
cannot tell how it happened, but after one
Of these desperate efforts to keep awake, |
realized that had beon asleep sure enough,
for as opened my eyes daylight was creep
ing up from the east.
/ was wide awake now, sure. To saw
that WAS scared is putting it mildly. Had
Pat been there during the night and found
me asleep? Would 1 be court-martialed
and shot?
After lying there for half hour or so
saw Pat approaching from the rear, and as
he came up L scanned his face for a sign.
well Chan, how did you make it last night" I"
he asked cheerily. II tried my level best
10 spare a man to relieve you about 2 o'clock,
but could not do So"
] never heard such gratifying remarks
in my life.
Flemming, poor boy, was killed at the
affair ut the Weldon Railroad Neither he
nor any one else except myself before now
6new that | took that dangerous nap on
July p, 1S61.-S. E. CHANDLER, Co. E,
oath \. Y. Cav, Minneapolis, Mimi.
Magazines and Notes.