Year: 1876

During one of our summer campaigns
in Western Louisiana my regiment chanced
to be bivouacked one night upon an open
prairie near Bayou Teche. The regiment
held the right OF the brigade, and as were
advancing up the country it was upon this
occasion nearest the bayou. All the dam
ger that could reasonably be apprehended
was from the front, and the picket line
was therefore extended along the whole
front of the brigade forty rods away.
From the right flank of my regiment to
the skirt of trees and bushes along the low
bank Of the deep and narrow stream, the
distance was about the same--forty or fifty
rods. There was no plantations in the
immediate vicinity, and between our right
and the bayou there were no fences nor
obstructions of any kind; merely an open
plain separated US from the Teche.


l was "officer of the day." and of course
charged with the supervision of the picket
line. About midnight made my second
tour of inspection on horseback, and found
the pickets all vigiant and the situation
quiet. Nothing suspicious nor remarka-
ble had been seen or heard; and ] rode
back to the reserve, intending to exchange
a word with the officer on duty there. and
then report at headquarters. The Lieu
tenant greeted me as l rode up, and said:


Il believe you gave me orders to picket
the right flank but have made couple
OF posts there about half way between the
camp and the bayou"


| lit can do no HARM" was my response,
''and probably no good. .'Still. the very
greatest prudence might require it. 1
will ride over and see for myself how you
have posted them.''


The Corporal who went with the two
men has not returned yet,n he said. eHe
was ordered to-"


| "Hark ~


The deep solemn stiffness of the hour
and the scene was interrupted only by the
low tones of his voice; but while listened
to him my ear had detected the faint, far
away sound of woman's voice over to
the right.


"The picket" was my Instant thought.
''Hark p exclaimed. aBf
! Again l heard the sound, and it was
heard now by the Lieutenant, as well as
by the soldiers standing near. Before an
other word could be spoken, the sharp
startling report of rifle rang upon the
night the from the same direction.


Take armsn' shouted the Lieutenant;
and leaving behind me the reserve, hurry
ing about and falling into line with noise
that sounded like the buzzing of an
awakened hive as left it further behind.
| put spurs to my horse and went racing
like mad toward the point of alarm. If
an enemy had really made an appearance
in that unexpected direction, it would re-
quire change of front of the whole or
part OF the brigade to meet him and in
tending to recOnnoiter, and learn the ex-
tent of the threatened danger, l rode on
till reached one of the flank pickets.
| What S the trouble P" demanded.
| Nothing here, sir" was the reply.
Jake over there, fired few minutes ago,
but l guess it was false alarm. I've
seen nothing and heard nothing alarming
but that shot.


| The next minute l was with the other
picket and listening to his explanation. 1t
appeared that he had been posted but
about twenty minutes. with orders to keep
a lookout toward the bayou. Footing it
back and forth few yards upon either
hand-as is the custom of soldiers on
picket in lonely and remote places-with
his rifle over his shoulder, his ear was
caught by a shuifling along the ground as
it If OF feet, apparently proceeding from
point somewhere between him and the
bayou. He stopped instantly, and bent
his eyes in the direction of the sound.
The night was quite dark. and nothing
was visible at first, though the suspicious
noise still continued: but in moment
more he saw what seemed to him to be the
head, shoulders, and arms of man mov-
ing along the ground directly toward him.


"Hatr' he shouted, bringing his rifle
to guard. ''Ilalt-who's there ?"


1t was the cry we had heard at the re-
serve. There was no answer, but the
shufiling noise continued, and the object
moved straight toward him.


"Halt - he shouted again, this time
with his gun at his shoulder. He fired al
most with the word.


The Corporal was near by on his tour,
and hurrying to the spot at the report,
reached it almost as soon as | did. We
found the soldier with his musket reload
ed, standing at guard, and peering ca
gerly into the darkness. A few words
from him explained the cause of alarm,
but not thing was to be seen. The Cor
poral laughed, and l was disposed to be
vexed with the man.
IL say there was a rebel on his hands
and knees out there. coming this way"
the soldier sturdily insisted. Il wish
you u Ootn been mere ana seen him, AS l
did. tell you it was some guerrilla spy,
sneaking around for chance to get IN
side the lines, and if hadn't kept bright
lookout his knife would have been
through me before now. l think l hit
him; we'll find him somewhere out there"


"You have killed pig, Jake. | don't
doubt" said the Corporal; but Jake firm
ly maintained that he had fired at man,
| .1c
out at once and search tor the body.
This, however, would not permit, deem
ing it useless to be done before morning,
and possibly dangerous; and with eau
ton to him to keep up good lookout.
but to be careful not to give too ready
an alarm, rode back to the reserve and
ordered the picket on the flank to be
doubled. can hardly say that had any
real appreheusiOn of dan Ger from that