The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-12
A LUCKY GUESS.
A Forager Gives the Countersign and the
Picket Passes the Party with the Chickens.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the
Winter of 1862, after the battle of Fred
ericksburg our division, the Pennsylvania
Reserves, were in camp between Falmouth
and Belle Plain, down along the river be-
low Fredericksburg, but on the other side.
We did picket duty there all Winter,
each regiment going out on picket three
days at a time.
A short time before Burnside made his
mud march our regiment was sent out for
three days in our turn, and while out two
men of my company started off on
prowling expedition away in front of our
line, and were gone all day. When they
returned they said that they had seen a
house about q mile in front of our line
that they knew had some chickens about
it, but they had not gone close enough to
see. 1t was not very healthy just then
to be found struggling very far in front
of our line. The COnfederates had scouts
over on our side of the river that were
likely to pick us up at any time, and these
men knew it.
We were relieved next morning, and
after getting back to camp and eat
ing our dinner l proposed that we
go out after those chickens. We went
about two miles to the picket line, which
we sneaked through between two posts,
not being seen by any one. else we would
have been sent home again. After get
ting through we kept on, and finally got
to the house; but it turned out to be near
er four miles from the line than a mile
and half. We found the chickens, after
time, and gathered in six, all there were.
Chickens seemed to be scarce here this
year, for some reason or other, but we
had as many now as had expected to get.
1t was just dark when We got back TO
our line again, and now we were in a fix.
1t would not do for us to try to run that
picket; the countersign would be out now,
and we would get shot at surely.
We halted and held a council of war.
The other men proposed that we walk
up to the picket, let him halt us, then let
the officer in charge pass us in. Yes" l
said, land let him pass us to the guard
house while he eats our chickens for sup
per. No, not today; We will not ask him to
pass us in. just let me pass US in; l
think | can. If / fail, then we can try
your plan next. Come on" We walked
out in front of one of the posts and were
halted. WHO comes there?' the sentry
asks. FRIENDS with the countersign,' l
told him.
Advance one and give the counter
sign he said.
l walked up to where he stood with
his gun at a charge bayonet and leaning
over the point of his bayonet said, Grown
Point"
1.-The countersign is correct" he said.
we passed on, while the sentry stood look
ing at us curiOusly, wondering, l suppose,
if we had been given that countersign to
go out and steal chickens. After we had
got clear of the picket the men with me
wanted to know how l had got that coun-
tersign.
L guessed it, 1 told them. We knew the
countersign last night was Ticonderoga,
and we knew what it was the night be-
fore and the night before that; and Crown
Point comes close after Ticonderoga; so l
guessed at it and hit it, that is all. That
comes of being a lawyer, they said; now
we might have guessed at that for year
and then not hit it.
Yes, 1 told them, a lawyer has to use
his brains, if he has any, and often is
not given much time to think, either. He
must use them in a hurry.
l was no lawyer, but passed for one in
the company. What l did not know about
law then and don't know now would fill
a ponderOus digest. l might have guessed
at it for a year next time, and not hit it
either, but did not tell them so.-JoHN
A. Brooks, Co. G, 18th Pa. r. V. c.,
Soldiers Home, Erie, Pa.