Year: 1862

one might see good deal of what was going
ol about the batteries further down. Joel
believed that the sentinel there stationed learn
ed more than was well for our side. He ac-
cordingly harrasSed and annoyed every one
that showed bis head on the hillside opposite,
and left several adventurous fellows stretched
out on the turf, one after another, as reward
for their temeriiy,


1t was nearly a quarter Of mile of. but, as
have said, the long Yermonter was good
shot, and it became really dangerous for the
enemy's picket TO show themselves at all near
the forbidden hillside. They soon learned this
lesson, and very naturally acted upon it.
/ Joel, sauntering carelessly down his path,
one fine afternoon, heard sharp report, and
1 felt the wind of rife ball that came wonder
fully near his head. Turning quickly, be saw
the smoke floating up from little pile of fresh
earth on the hill opposite. The enemy had
dug pit wherein the sentinel could sit at ease
and expose his head and arms only when he
fred. Private Shapes FASTENED, with praise
worthy prudence, to get out of sight, among
some cedars, and watched for some time before
quite fixing the location Of his foeman again.
Finally, discovering the fresh earth once more,
aud imagining that be saw hat Just above it,
he took a shot in that direction. Up pegged a
tall sentinel, bareheaded, and returned the fire
instantly. He had only been trying the old
trick of putting his bat on a ramrod.


"This1l never dew" soliloquized JOEL
That cuss has got tew good berth over
yander. Ill just have tew rouse him out"


The sentinel's death-warrant was in some
sort signed from that moment The crafty
Vermonter's brain was at work on the problem
of dislodging his man thenceforth.


So long as Joel kept quiet, so long bid bis
antagonist; but it was presumable that he
could see the batteries in process of construc-
ton, without exposing his head, for the earth
taken from the pit was carefully piled up on
the side towards Joel.


From thicket at the foot of the two hills,
however, shot could be thrown, lengthwise
of the trench, and behind bis triing breast
work. To gain that thicket, then without
being too visible on the barren slope, was
Joels idea


The next day, private Shapes took with him
long piece of stout twine and loaded revo-
yer, when he went out on picket duty. 1t was
not yet daylight, but the gray and indistiuct
light of dawn had begun to pale in the East


The sentinel, as soon as the guard passed
along, FASTENED to drive a smoothe stake into
the ground, and TO rest his musket over fork
in cedar bush in front of the stake, the muz-
zle of the weapon pointing in the direction of
the pit on the farther slope.


He then cooked the piece, and having fast
ened one end of his cord to the trigger begun
stealthily crawling down hill on his hands aud
knees, paying out the line as he went.


1t was hazardous experiment for the
thicket, when he gained it, was very sparse
and so near to the pit that the Confederate
sentry, had he suspected Joel's presence there,
could have hardly failed 10 bit him.


Lying down, however, the Vermonter await
en- sunrise, and as the shadows faded away into
the msts of morning, he saw The light CLEAN
upon bayonet, peering from the trench on
the hills


Now for tew make him show his picter "
said Joel to himself.


He pulled the string, carefully, at first, till it
was drawn tight, and then slight extra tug
fred the musket from among the cedars above.


He had not calculated wrongly. As soon as
the riheman in the pit heard this matinal salu
tation from his enemy over opposite, as he sup
posed, he raised himself up TO return the fire,
and brought his head and shoulders plainly into
sight.


The next instant be went heels over head
into his trench again, with bullet from the
unerring Colt straight through the side Of his
head.


The derned fool" :" said private Shapes
didn't be know feller might shoot of gun
without having hold onto it ?


The Confederate pickets decided, thereafter,
that this position was too exposed to be profit
ably occupied.


The CoRRuPTIoS OF THE REPUBLICAN PAR
rY.-The Republican party has been organized
about seven years. 1t has had control of GER
tain State Governments four or FIVE years, and