Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-03-06
GHOST OF THE PICKET LINE

straighten his line, and the brigade Oh
the left-center was ordered to cross the
creek and push to the crest of the for
est-covered hill beyond. -Four thou
sand men waited for half an hour
while twelve field guns shelled the Md
den foe and then a mighty cheer rung
out and they swept forward. Over the
creek over the breastwOrks through
the tangle of felled trees-and the brig
ade was there. Picket posts were
pushed forward. sentry lines estab-
lished and the dead were buried and
/ the wounded carried to the rear
But wasn't 1t a glorious victory
shouted the new recruit, as he swung
| his cap and exulted.
look here Jackson Smith, said
Sergt. Drake, as he looked around at
| him, whats all this fuss abouty'
"Why, we drove 'em like flock OF
sheep"
bah! Yon are making mighty
fuss over nothing. | don't believe the
whole loss will figure up 200. If you
don't want to become a laughing-stock
you'll shut up!'
but, say persisted the recruit, ut
was my first fight and IL"
"And you didn't tumble down behind
n log nor run away" finished the ser
gcant. Brave man, you are! You'll be
colonel of the regiment in another
month. Say, boy, lemme tell you
sunthin. You've chawed up hun
dred bareback and taken part in sec
0ndhoss skirmish, and you are shoutin
as if the war was over. You jest
waltz
wait for what?"
"Mebbe you think there amt nuthin'
wuss nor battle in this war bizness,
but you'll find out to the contrary. If
they happen to git you down there to-
night, you'll be chawin' on your heart
instead of hurrahln'."
"Down where" whispered the re-
cruit, as the flush left his face.
"On a picket-post, of course. There's
10000 rebs within cannon-shot Of us,
and their pickets and ours won't be
biscuit-toss apart. II it's darkish
night, with the wind blowln' gusts,
You'll know what misery means before
you've stood hair your triek out.
Humph! The idea Of your yellA'
around because we've had tiny little
fkirmish! G'lons and sbet up"
At 6 o'clock that night company u
was detailed for picket duty, and as
the men fell III Scrgl. Drake said to
Private Smith. with a grim smile:
"Mcbbc you'll he checrin along
about midnight tonight, but | don't
believe it. Better have pocketful Of
roots to chaw on, or the chatter of
your teeth will give you away to the
Johnnes."
Later in the evening. when Private
Smith was included in the relief to 90
out at 10 o'clock, he sat down beside
an old veteran and asked:
"What is it about this plcket-post
duty?"
Are ye fresh fish," queried the man
In reply.
eyes"
"When do We go out?"
"From 10 to 12.'
"Wal, it's better to learn from ex.
pericncc."
"But they place me at some point for
two hours" persisted the'recruit. "All
I have to do is to stay there and watch
out"
"That'S all"
"1f the rebels should advance ] give
the alarm"
"rhat's It."
"But don't see what there Is about
that to give one the shakes. Sergt.
Drake has been trying to make out
that it's worse than battle. Yon
don't think so, do you?"
The veteran removed his pipe from
his mouth and looked at the recruit
for a long minute before shaking his
head and saying
81 amt sayin' what I think. Yell
hev to go on anyhow. and we can talk
1t over to-morrer. If | was You I'd
kinder make up my mind and so git yer
nerves in good shape"
At 10 o'clock, when the relief guard
fell In to replace the men who had
been out since 8, there was a quarter
moon in the sky and ragged clouds
were dragging across the heavens. ia
son Smith had made up his mind that
he was being guyed, and he was feeling
resentful when the sergeant finished
calling the roll and said to the dozen
men.
"Now. then. step softly and make
as little noise as possible. There is
only one man to post. There is 10
be no alarm unless you are sure there
Is a force of rebels at hand They are
all along this front and in some places
not stones throw away Forward
march,
Private Jason Smith relieved post
No. 6. A long house had stood on a
knoll between the lines at sunrise, but
the shells from the federal artillery
Rad knocked it to pieces. Post No. 6
was under a wide-spreading cherry
tree, within thirty feet of the ruins Of
the house, and as the pickets were
changed the sergeant whispered to the
new man.
"You are fresh fish and so I marked
you down for the easiest post, Keep
your eyes and ears open and don't get
pokey"
"They tried to make A fool Of mer
whispered Private Smith to himself as