Connecticut western news., 1912-01-11
THE HEAVIES BUSY TIMES Large Detail of Soldiers Kept Con-
 stantlY on Picket Duty.
BY K. s. ROBERTS


 Comrades: In my last we had return ed to our old camp, which was only about half mIle distant. You will re- member some instances connected with this battle. that are of interest to the boys. You will remember when we lay close behind the breastworks and the order had been given that you were to charge on the rebel works, and were only awaiting the order, you had the opportunity to study the temperament of the comrades, as you often had, There was pallor on every face, vary ing from natural to white as marble, but extreme white was not an indication of lack of courage. You will remember one that was as white as ghost and was so sick that he vomited continually, but was as brave a man as was in the service and never faltered in any action. You know 1t was trying time, for we knew that some of your numbers would not see the light of the morrow's sun. You will remember that we charged over their first line of pits and through the swamp to the foot of little hillS and the firing was so sharp that we had orders to lie down, which we did. You will remember that the Johnnies brought battery out onto our left flank and opened upon us, and their shell shrieked over the entire length of our line as we lay there remember of shell that struck at my feet and got up and moved little to the front by the side of Lieutenant Twiss. Soon another shell came oyer and killed the comrade that lay by the side of where had moved from. I thought it providential that l moved.
 You will remember the battery of three guns, each drawn by six horses, going at full gallop off to our left where it swung into position, unlimbered and opened on the Johnnies. and very quickly put stop to the cross.hre on us. This was in plain view of our line. This stopped the artillery fire upon our left, but there was still battery on our right that was doing very effective work. but they were soon silenced and our new llne established so stay. which became very effective few later.
 You returned to camp, as said. at midnight, with many less than we went out with, and the rebel loss in killed and wounded far exceeded ours. beside the eighteen hundred prisoners which were our trophy, and closed the busy day of March 25, 1864.
 From this day until April g, you were making history very fast. These little episodes did not hinder inspections for the following day was Sunday and you had to clean up for inspection and the regiment called into line and inspected.
 A detail of about one hundred and fifty men for the picket line was daily occurrence and kept them on the alert. From this time you were "kept in the harness :" every morning by o'clock you were called out, with equipments, and marched into the "pits'' or breast works, there to watch, for the rebels were continually watching for weak spots in our lines, to break through. In fact, we could tell by spasmodic mus ketry, accompanied by artillery firing on our right or left. This vigilance on our part was disagreeable, for there was hardly night but that it rained and 'soiled our linen," but we were SO sand guine that rebellion was near collapse that we did not complain. You know that we were getting no more sleep that was needed. The boys on the picket line relieved every twenty-four hours unless some move of the reserves prevented. And relief from picket duty was not much relief, for you had to keep on the alert with very little sleep. And, too, some days the picket was not relieved but kept out 36 hours.
 There was much movement of troops to the left. A large body of Sheridan's cavalry passed our camp.
 March G9th was A busy day, moving troops to the left. Three o'clock every morning found us in line with all of our earthly belongings and rain, rain, rain was what we generally found to increase our comfort, for being all packed up we had no protection, and we were almost continually on the move-into the pits, then out and down. and get sleep if pos sible.
 All sorts of rumors we had for break fast, dinner and supper. Heavy firing on the right
 April 1st was beautiful day. We got out as usual, sent out the usual de- tail on picket. This day Sheridan is having fighting down at Five Forks and by the noise, should think that the show was safe living was rather doubt. ful. Rumor says that five thousand rebels have given up. Don't wonder at it, with the scrImp feed they have.
 Another hundred guns this in honor l of Sbar;da,te victory ot Eivp Eorks