Year: 1863

ing, tough-slnewed regiment OF volunteers,


was good shot and a smart soldier


He found great satisfaction in picket du-
ty, and hardly came in from days ex-
ercise in that branch of military service
without having a report to make TO his
superior officer of some new work discov-
cred, some conversation overheard, or
some little chance circumstance perceived
that might be of use in gaining ou advan-
tage over the enemy.


Joel was long, lank, yellow-haired fel-
low, not very soldiorly in speech Or bear
ing but of infinitely more service than
many one of our snug, draper, we'll
looking city soldiers. He was frightfully
sunburt, and bis face, coarse-featured and
demurc, suggested good humor and pow
er Of endurance, more tEau courage or dis
cipline. But there was twinkle about
his small gray eye which enlivened them
despite their scanty and characterless
white lashes, aud impressed the close OBJ
server with a wholesome respect FOR his
courage and intelligence. His nasal voice
and drawl, his round shoulders and fiat
build could not shake this respect so long
as one kept those clear, far-seeing eyes
in sight, and Joers comrades prophesied
that he had only to behave himself, to
keep on his way, to gain a pair of epau-
lets one fine day.


He openly declared that manual labor
on the earlh-works was distastetu to him,
and his officers, knowing bis value at pick
ct duty, evinced enough consideration for
him to keep him at that service.


The position he liked best was on a
slope of hill, opposite similar slope oc-
cupied by sentinel of tho Coufederntes.
This last was quite high bit of ground
whence one might see great deal that
was going on about the batteries further
down. Joel believed that the sentinel
stationed there learned more than was
well for our side. He accordingly har-
rassed and annoyed every one that show
ed his head on the hillside opposite, and
left several adventurous fellows stretched
on the turf, one after another, as reward
for their temerity. 1t was nearly quar-
Ter of a mile of, but rs l have said, the
long Vermonter was a good shot, and it
became really dangerous for the enemy's
pickets to show themselves at all near the
forbidding hillside. They soon learned
their lesson, and very soon acted upon it.
Joel, sauntering down this path one fine
afternoon, heard a report, and felt the
wind of rifle ball that came wonderfully
near his head. Turning quickly he saw
the smoke floating up from little pile of
fresh earth on the hill opposite, The en-
omy had dug a pit wherein the picket
could sit at ease, and expose his head and
arms only when he fired. Private Shapes
hastened with praisoworthy prudence to
get out of sight among some cedars, and
watched for sometime before fixing the
location of the foeman again. Finally
discovering the fresh earth again, and i'm
agining that he saw hat just above it,
he took a shot in that direction. Up peg
ged a tall sentinel, bareheaded, and re-
turned the fire instantly. He had only
been trying the old trick of putting his
hat on his ramrod.


"This'll never dew," solilcquized Joel.
"That cuss can get tew good berth over
youder III just have to rouse him out"
The other sentinePs death warrant was in
some sort signed from that moment. The
crafty Vermonter's brain was at work on
the problem of dislodging this man hence
forth.


So long as Joel kept quiet so did his
antagonist, but it was presumablc that he
could see the batteries in progress of con
struction, without exposing himself, for
the earth taken from the pit was carefully
piled upon the side toward Joel.


FROM thicket at the foot Of the two