The Perilous Picket Post

[Peace Society]

The Perilous Picket Post

Warning: incidents may be glad or sad.

(stumps)


Standing Picket on the Potomac
1 TN, Co H
Near Bath, winter 1862

While I was peering through the darkness, my eyes suddenly fell upon the outlines of a man. The more I looked the more I was convinced that it was a Yankee picket. I could see his hat and coat - yes, see his gun. I was sure that it was a Yankee picket. What was I to do? The relief was several hundred yards in the rear. The more I looked the more sure I was. At last a cold sweat broke out all over my body. Turkey bumps rose. I summoned all the nerves and bravery that I could command, and said: "Halt! who goes there?" There being no response, I became resolute. I did not wish to fire and arouse the camp, but I marched right up to it and stuck my bayonet through and through it. It was a stump.

1861 vs. 1882: "Co. Aytch," Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment
Samuel R Watkins, 1882

"Co. Aytch": A Side Show of the Big Show; Macmillan Publ. Co., 1962
Co. Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of the Civil War; Simon & Shuster; 1990




Western Virginia
3 OH
July 21, 1861

The sound of a musket is just heard on the picket post, three-quarters of a mile away, and the shot is being repeated by our line of sentinels. *** The whole camp has been in an uproar. Many men, half asleep, rushed from their tents and fired off their guns in their company grounds. Others, supposing the enemy near, became excited and discharged theirs also. The tents were struck, Loomis' First Michigan Battery manned, and we awaited the attack, but none was made. It was a false alarm. Some sentinel probably halted a stump and fired, thus rousing a thousand men from their warm beds.


Western Virginia
3 OH
August 24, 1861

Last night a sentinel on one of the picket posts halted a stump and demanded the countersign. No response being made, he fired. The entire Fifteenth Indiana sprang to arms; the cannoniers gathered about their guns, and a thousand eyes peered into the darkness to get a glimpse of the approaching enemy. But the stump, evidently intimidated by the first shot, did not advance, and so the Hoosiers returned again to their couches ….



The Citizen-Soldier; or, Memoirs of a Volunteer
John Beatty
Wilsatch, Baldwin & Co., Cincinnati, 1879, p. 33, 64.

Time-Life Books; Alexandria, Va.; 1983
U of Neb. Press; Lincoln & London; 1998




(cows)

Western Virginia
3 OH
July 21, 1861

This morning, at two o'clock, I was rattled up by a sentinel, who had come to camp in hot haste to inform me that he had seen and fired upon a body of twenty-five or more men, probably the advance guard of the enemy. He desired me to send two companies to strengthen the outpost. I preferred, however, to go myself to the scene of the trouble; and, after investigation, concluded that the guard had been alarmed by a couple of cows.

The Citizen-Soldier; or, Memoirs of a Volunteer
John Beatty
Wilsatch, Baldwin & Co., Cincinnati, 1879, p. 33.

Time-Life Books; Alexandria, Va.; 1983
U of Neb. Press; Lincoln & London; 1998


(pigs)

1 MN, Army of the Potomac
Fredericksburg
Nov. 4, 1862

A nice pig generously introduces himself to the guard & is accepted as a martyr to the cause of the Union.

Isaac Lyman Taylor

Quoted in The Last Full Measure: The Life and Death of the First Minnesota Volunteers
Richard Moe; Henry Holt & Co, NY; 1993, p. 203






(frozen)

1 TN, Co H
Hampshire Crossing, winter 1862

… our regiment was ordered to go to a little stream called St. John's Run, to relieve the 14th​ Georgia Regiment and the 3rd Arkansas. I cannot tell the facts as I desire to. In fact, my hand trembles so, and my feelings are so overcome, that it is hard for me to write at all. But we went to the place that we were ordered to go to, and when we arrived there we found the guard sure enough. If I remember correctly there were just eleven of them. Some were sitting down and some were laying down; but each and every one was as cold and as hard frozen as the icicles that hung from their hands and faces and clothing - dead! They had died at their post of duty. Two of them, a little in advance of the others, were standing with their guns in their hands, as cold and as hard frozen as monument of marble - standing sentinel with loaded guns in their frozen hands!

Sometime 1864
Near Atlanta

I remember going to an old citizen's house… The first time that I went there they seemed very glad to see me, and told me that I looked exactly like their son who was in the army. I asked them what regiment he belonged to. After a moment's silence the old lady, her voice trembling as she spoke, said the Fourteenth Georgia, and then she began to cry. Then the old man said, "Yes, we have a son in the army. He went to Virginia the first year of the war, and we have never heard of him since. These wars are terrible, sir. The last time that we heard of him, he went with Stonewall Jackson away up in the mountains of West Virginia, toward Romney, and I did hear that while standing picket at a little place called Hampshire Crossing on a little stream called St. John's Run, he and eleven others froze to death. We have never heard of him since." …

1861 vs. 1882: "Co. Aytch," Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment
Samuel R Watkins, 1882

"Co. Aytch": A Side Show of the Big Show; Macmillan Publ. Co., 1962
Co. Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of the Civil War; Simon & Shuster; 1990






(enemy encounters)

1 TN Co H
Murfreesboro, December 1862

Our army stopped at Murfreesboro. Our advanced outpost was established at Lavergne. From time to time different regiments were sent forward to do picket duty. I was on picket at the time the advance was made by Rosecrans. At the time mentioned, I was standing about two hundred yards off the road, the main body of the pickets being on the Nashville and Murfreesboro turnpike, and commanded by Lieutenant Hardy Murfree, of the Rutherford Rifles.

I had orders to allow no one to pass. In fact, no one was expected to pass at this point, but while standing at my post, a horseman rode up behind me. I halted him, and told him to go down to the main picket on the road and pass, but he seemed so smiling that I thought he knew me, or had a good joke to tell me. He advanced up, and pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket, handed it to me to read. It was an order from General Leonidas Polk to allow the bearer to pass. I read it, and looked up to hand it back to him, when I discovered that he had a pistol cocked and leveled in my face., and says he, "Drop that gun; you are my prisoner." I say there was no use in fooling about it. I knew if I resisted he would shoot me, and I thought then that he was about to perform that detestable operation. I dropped the gun.

I did not wish to spend my winter in a Northern prison, and what was worse, I would be called a deserter from my post of duty.

The Yankee picket lines were not a half mile off. I was perfectly willing to let the spy go on his way rejoicing - for such he was - but he wanted to capture a Rebel.

And I had made up my mind to think likewise. There I was, a prisoner sure, and no mistake about it.

His pistol was leveled, and I was ordered to march. I was afraid to halloo to the relief, and you may be sure I was in a bad fix.

Finally says I, "Let's play quits. I think you are a soldier; you look like a gentleman. I am a videt; you know the responsibility resting on me. You go your way, and leave me here. Is it a bargain?"

Says he, "I would not trust a Secesh on his word, oath, or bond. March, I say."

I soon found out that he had caught sight of the relief on the road, and was afraid to shoot. I quickly made up my mind. My gun was at my feet, and one step would get it. I made a quick glance over my shoulder, and grabbed at my gun. He divined my motive, and fired. The ball missed its aim. He puts spurs to his horse, but I pulled down on him, and almost tore the fore shoulder of his horse entirely off, but I did not capture the spy, though I captured the horse, bridle and saddle. Major Allen of the Twenty-seventh Tennessee Regiment, took the saddle and bridle, and gave me the blanket. I remembered the blanket had the picture of a "big lion" on it, and it was almost new. When we fell back, as the Yankee sharpshooters advanced, we left the poor old horse nipping the short, dry grass. I saw a Yankee skirmisher run up and grab the horse and give a whoop as if he had captured a Rebel horse. But they continued to advance upon us, we firing and retreating slowly.


1861 vs. 1882: "Co. Aytch," Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment
Samuel R Watkins, 1882

"Co. Aytch": A Side Show of the Big Show; Macmillan Publ. Co., 1962
Co. Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of the Civil War; Simon & Shuster; 1990

 

[Peace Society]

The Perilous Picket Post #2

(fraternization)

1 TN, Co. H
Missionary Ridge 1863

At this place the Yankee outpost was on one side of the Tennessee river, and ours on the other. I was on the detail one Sunday commanded by Sergeant John T. Tucker. When we were approaching we heard the old guard and the Yankee picket talking back and forth across the river. The new guard immediately resumed the conversation. We had to halloo at the top of our voices, the river being about three hundred yards wide at this point. But there was a little island about the middle of the river. A Yankee hallooed out, "O, Johnny, Johnny, meet me half way in the river on the island." "All right," said Sergeant Tucker, who immediately undressed all but his hat, in which he carried the Chattanooga Rebel and some other Southern newspapers, and swam across to the island. When he got there the Yankee was there, but the Yankee had waded. I do not know what he and John talked about, but they got very friendly, and John invited him to come clear across to our side, which invitation he accepted. I noticed at the time that while John swam, the Yankee waded, remarking that he couldn't swim. The river was but little over waist deep. Well, they came across and we swapped a few lies, canteens and tobacco, and then the Yankee went back, wading all the way across the stream. That man was General Wilder, commanding the Federal cavalry, and at the battle of Missionary Ridge he threw his whole division of cavalry across the Tennessee river at that point, thus flanking Bragg's army, and opening the battle. He was examining the ford, and the swapping business was but a mere by-play. He played it sharp, and Bragg had to get further.

1861 vs. 1882: "Co. Aytch," Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment
Samuel R Watkins, 1882

"Co. Aytch": A Side Show of the Big Show; Macmillan Publ. Co., 1962
Co. Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of the Civil War; Simon & Shuster; 1990, p. 98-99




(fraternization and…)


1 TN, Co. H
Missionary Ridge 1863

One morning Theodore Sloan, Hog Johnson and I were standing picket at the little stream that runs along at the foot of Lookout Mountain. In fact, I would be pleased to name our captain, Fulcher, and Lieutenant Lansdown, of that guard on this occasion, because we acted as picket for the whole three days' engagement without being relieved, and haven't been relieved yet. But that battle has gone into history. We heard a Yankee call, "O, Johnny, Johnny Reb!" I started out to meet him as formerly, when he hallooed out, "Go back, Johnny, go back; we are ordered to fire on you." "What is the matter? Is your army going to advance on us?" "I don't know; we are ordered to fire." I jumped back into the picket post, and a minnie ball ruined the only hat I had; another and another followed in quick succession, and the dirt flew up in our faces off our little breastworks. Before night the picket line was engaged from one end to the other.

… I know nothing about the battle; how Grant, with one wing, went up the river, and Hooker's corps went down Wills valley, etc. I heard fighting and commanding and musketry all day long, but I was still on picket. Balls were passing over our heads, both coming and going. I could not tell whether I was standing picket for Yankees or Rebels. I knew that the Yankee line was between me and the Rebel line, for I could see the battle right over the tunnel. We had been placed on picket at the foot of Lookout Mountain, but we were five miles from that place now. If I had tried to run in I couldn't. I had got separated from Sloan and Johnson somehow; in fact, was waiting either for an advance of the Yankees, or to be called in by the captain of the picket. … The Yankees were swarming everywhere. They were passing me all day with their dead and wounded, going back to Chattanooga. No one seemed to notice me; they were passing to and fro, cannon, artillery, and everything. I was willing to be taken prisoner, but no one seemed disposed to do it. I was afraid to look at them, and I was afraid to hide, for fear some one's attention would be attracted toward me. I wished I could make myself invisible. I think I was invisible. I felt that way anyhow.

… About two or three o'clock, a column of Yankees advancing to the attack swept right over where I was standing. I was trying to stand aside to get out of their way, but the more I tried to get out of their way, the more in their way I got. I was carried forward, I knew not whither. We soon arrived at the foot of the ridge, at our old breastworks. … I was in front of the enemy's line, and was afraid to run up the ridge, and afraid to surrender. They were ordered to charge up the hill. There was no firing from the Rebel lines in our immediate front. They kept climbing and pulling and scratching until I was in touching distance of the old Rebel breastworks, right on the very apex of Missionary Ridge. I made one jump, and I heard Captain Turner, who had the very four Napoleon guns we had captured at Perryville, halloo out, "Number four, solid!" And then a roar. The next order was "Limber to the rear."

… The whole army was routed. I ran on down the ridge, and there was our regiment, the First Tennessee, with their guns stacked, and drawing rations as if nothing was going on. Says I, "Colonel Field, what's the matter? The whole army is routed and running; hadn't you better be getting away from here? The Yankees are not a hundred yards from here. Turner's battery has surrendered. Day's brigade has thrown down their arms; and look yonder; that is the Stars and Stripes." He remarked very coolly, "You seem to be demoralized. We've whipped them here. We've captured two thousand prisoners and five stands of colors."

Just at this time General Bragg and staff rode up. … Says he, "What's this? Ah, ha, have you stacked your arms for a surrender?" "No, sir," says Field. "Take arms, shoulder arms, by the right flank, file right, march," just as cool and deliberate as if on dress parade. Bragg looked scared. He had put spurs to his horse, and was running like a scared dog before Colonel Field had a chance to answer him. Every word of this is a fact. We at once became the rear guard of the whole army.

1861 vs. 1882: "Co. Aytch," Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment
Samuel R Watkins, 1882

"Co. Aytch": A Side Show of the Big Show; Macmillan Publ. Co., 1962
Co. Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of the Civil War; Simon & Shuster; 1990, p. 100-103






(enemies?)

1 TN, Co. H
Near Atlanta
July 1864

While I was looking toward the Yankee line, I saw a man riding leisurely along on horseback, and singing a sort of humdrum tune. I took him to be some old citizen. He rode on down the road toward me, and when he had approached, "Who goes there?" He immediately answered, "A friend." I thought that I recognized the voice in the darkness - and said I, "Advance, friend, but you are my prisoner." He rode on toward me, and I soon saw that it was Mr. Mumford Smith, the old sheriff of Maury county. I was very glad to see him, and as soon as the relief guard came, I went back to camp with him. I do not remember of ever in my life being more glad to see any person. He had brought a letter from home….

1861 vs. 1882: "Co. Aytch," Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment
Samuel R Watkins, 1882

"Co. Aytch": A Side Show of the Big Show; Macmillan Publ. Co., 1962
Co. Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of the Civil War; Simon & Shuster; 1990, p. 162

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

But the stump, evidently intimidated by the first shot, did not advance, and so the Hoosiers returned again to their couches ….

Thank you for putting all these in. I especially like this!

 

[connecticut yankee]

Excellent posts. Thank you!

 

[DorwinBlack]

'Last night the pickets were notified that the enemy was directly in our front. I was on duty with Company C on that night. If the rebs had of undertook to cross our lines, they would have had a good time. George Farrell halted a mule. The mule, not knowing what halt meant, went on. George snapped his old Enfield at it some three of four times, and I dare say, If his gun had of went off, there would have been one mule less in Tennessee.'

letter: A.W. Black (90th OVI) to wife Evaline
written from Camp on Cripple Creek Near
Murfreesboro, Tennessee March 11 1863

 

[Lubliner]

The irony in some of these men's writings of their experiences is truly noteworthy!
Lubliner.

 

[Peace Society]

The irony in some of these men's writings of their experiences is truly noteworthy!
Lubliner.

I particularly like this: One morning Theodore Sloan, Hog Johnson and I were standing picket at the little stream that runs along at the foot of Lookout Mountain. In fact, I would be pleased to name our captain, Fulcher, and Lieutenant Lansdown, of that guard on this occasion, because we acted as picket for the whole three days' engagement without being relieved, and haven't been relieved yet. [1882] Quite an experience he had.

 

[Peace Society]

3 MN
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
May 1862

We have pickets extending about two miles from camp in every direction. It takes 200 men, 4 corpls, 4 Sergts., 2 Lieuts., 1 capt., and one field officer of the day. I was out on the Salem Pike two and one half miles in command of a part of the picket day before yesterday, and as luck would have it was the first one to get information of the approach of the enemy which was not supposed to be nearer than twenty five miles of here any way.
p. 85


June 1862

I rec'd a letter from you yesterday brought to me while I was on picket duty, from which I have just returned. Col. Lester has got his back up on account of the pickets "drawing pigs, chickens, &c, &c.,["] and will not allow corporals to command pickets, but puts it all upon the sergeants whom he holds to a strict accountability for all depredations committed by their respective commands. This new rule brings the sergts. on duty at least as often as once in four days and frequently as often as once in two days, which, with being up with the regt. as often as two or three nights a week, in line of battle to repel some rumored attack, makes it rather burthensome for me.
p. 99-100



Fort Halleck, Columbus, KY
Feb. 1863

Last Friday I was Captain of the Piquet Guard, and had a good time riding around all day through the mud, accompanied by a Cavalry escort to keep the bushwhackers from gobbling me.

James Madison Bowler
Go If You Think It Your Duty: A Minnesota Couple's Civil War Letters by Andrea R. Foroughi
Minnesota Historical Society Press, St. Paul, 2008, p. 146

 

[Peace Society]

Petersburg 12-14-64

A picket line is always one of the most picturesque sights in an army, when it runs through woods and fields. You know it consists of a string of "posts," each of half a dozen men, or so, and, in front of these, a chain of sentries who are constantly on the alert. The squads of men make to themselves a gipsy bough-house in front of which they make a fire in cool weather. They must always have their belts on and be ready to fight at a moment's notice. In the woods, you follow along from one rustic shelter to another, and see the sentries, out in front, each standing behind a good tree and keeping a sharp lookout for Rebel scouts, bushwhackers and cavalry. A short distance in the rear you from time to time come on a "reserve," which is a large body, perhaps of fifty or a hundred, who are concealed and who are ready to come to the assistance of the posts, if they are attacked. Picket duty is, of all others, that which requires most individual intelligence in the soldiers. A picket line, judiciously posted, in woods or swamps, will oppose a formidable resistance, even to a line of battle.

Theodore Lyman, letter to his wife from Meade's HQ

 

[Lubliner]

Petersburg 12-14-64

A picket line is always one of the most picturesque sights in an army, when it runs through woods and fields. You know it consists of a string of "posts," each of half a dozen men, or so, and, in front of these, a chain of sentries who are constantly on the alert. The squads of men make to themselves a gipsy bough-house in front of which they make a fire in cool weather. They must always have their belts on and be ready to fight at a moment's notice. In the woods, you follow along from one rustic shelter to another, and see the sentries, out in front, each standing behind a good tree and keeping a sharp lookout for Rebel scouts, bushwhackers and cavalry. A short distance in the rear you from time to time come on a "reserve," which is a large body, perhaps of fifty or a hundred, who are concealed and who are ready to come to the assistance of the posts, if they are attacked. Picket duty is, of all others, that which requires most individual intelligence in the soldiers. A picket line, judiciously posted, in woods or swamps, will oppose a formidable resistance, even to a line of battle.

Theodore Lyman, letter to his wife from Meade's HQ

A rather romantic viewpoint of some very dangerous details.
Lubliner.

 

[121st PA Vols]

Petersburg 12-14-64

A picket line is always one of the most picturesque sights in an army, when it runs through woods and fields. You know it consists of a string of "posts," each of half a dozen men, or so, and, in front of these, a chain of sentries who are constantly on the alert. The squads of men make to themselves a gipsy bough-house in front of which they make a fire in cool weather. They must always have their belts on and be ready to fight at a moment's notice. In the woods, you follow along from one rustic shelter to another, and see the sentries, out in front, each standing behind a good tree and keeping a sharp lookout for Rebel scouts, bushwhackers and cavalry. A short distance in the rear you from time to time come on a "reserve," which is a large body, perhaps of fifty or a hundred, who are concealed and who are ready to come to the assistance of the posts, if they are attacked. Picket duty is, of all others, that which requires most individual intelligence in the soldiers. A picket line, judiciously posted, in woods or swamps, will oppose a formidable resistance, even to a line of battle.

Theodore Lyman, letter to his wife from Meade's HQ

This is all good and informative work you did here. Thank you. Never done learning!

 

[Enfieldnut53]

The Perilous Picket Post #2

(fraternization)

1 TN, Co. H
Missionary Ridge 1863

At this place the Yankee outpost was on one side of the Tennessee river, and ours on the other. I was on the detail one Sunday commanded by Sergeant John T. Tucker. When we were approaching we heard the old guard and the Yankee picket talking back and forth across the river. The new guard immediately resumed the conversation. We had to halloo at the top of our voices, the river being about three hundred yards wide at this point. But there was a little island about the middle of the river. A Yankee hallooed out, "O, Johnny, Johnny, meet me half way in the river on the island." "All right," said Sergeant Tucker, who immediately undressed all but his hat, in which he carried the Chattanooga Rebel and some other Southern newspapers, and swam across to the island. When he got there the Yankee was there, but the Yankee had waded. I do not know what he and John talked about, but they got very friendly, and John invited him to come clear across to our side, which invitation he accepted. I noticed at the time that while John swam, the Yankee waded, remarking that he couldn't swim. The river was but little over waist deep. Well, they came across and we swapped a few lies, canteens and tobacco, and then the Yankee went back, wading all the way across the stream. That man was General Wilder, commanding the Federal cavalry, and at the battle of Missionary Ridge he threw his whole division of cavalry across the Tennessee river at that point, thus flanking Bragg's army, and opening the battle. He was examining the ford, and the swapping business was but a mere by-play. He played it sharp, and Bragg had to get further.

1861 vs. 1882: "Co. Aytch," Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment
Samuel R Watkins, 1882

"Co. Aytch": A Side Show of the Big Show; Macmillan Publ. Co., 1962
Co. Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of the Civil War; Simon & Shuster; 1990, p. 98-99




(fraternization and…)


1 TN, Co. H
Missionary Ridge 1863

One morning Theodore Sloan, Hog Johnson and I were standing picket at the little stream that runs along at the foot of Lookout Mountain. In fact, I would be pleased to name our captain, Fulcher, and Lieutenant Lansdown, of that guard on this occasion, because we acted as picket for the whole three days' engagement without being relieved, and haven't been relieved yet. But that battle has gone into history. We heard a Yankee call, "O, Johnny, Johnny Reb!" I started out to meet him as formerly, when he hallooed out, "Go back, Johnny, go back; we are ordered to fire on you." "What is the matter? Is your army going to advance on us?" "I don't know; we are ordered to fire." I jumped back into the picket post, and a minnie ball ruined the only hat I had; another and another followed in quick succession, and the dirt flew up in our faces off our little breastworks. Before night the picket line was engaged from one end to the other.

… I know nothing about the battle; how Grant, with one wing, went up the river, and Hooker's corps went down Wills valley, etc. I heard fighting and commanding and musketry all day long, but I was still on picket. Balls were passing over our heads, both coming and going. I could not tell whether I was standing picket for Yankees or Rebels. I knew that the Yankee line was between me and the Rebel line, for I could see the battle right over the tunnel. We had been placed on picket at the foot of Lookout Mountain, but we were five miles from that place now. If I had tried to run in I couldn't. I had got separated from Sloan and Johnson somehow; in fact, was waiting either for an advance of the Yankees, or to be called in by the captain of the picket. … The Yankees were swarming everywhere. They were passing me all day with their dead and wounded, going back to Chattanooga. No one seemed to notice me; they were passing to and fro, cannon, artillery, and everything. I was willing to be taken prisoner, but no one seemed disposed to do it. I was afraid to look at them, and I was afraid to hide, for fear some one's attention would be attracted toward me. I wished I could make myself invisible. I think I was invisible. I felt that way anyhow.

… About two or three o'clock, a column of Yankees advancing to the attack swept right over where I was standing. I was trying to stand aside to get out of their way, but the more I tried to get out of their way, the more in their way I got. I was carried forward, I knew not whither. We soon arrived at the foot of the ridge, at our old breastworks. … I was in front of the enemy's line, and was afraid to run up the ridge, and afraid to surrender. They were ordered to charge up the hill. There was no firing from the Rebel lines in our immediate front. They kept climbing and pulling and scratching until I was in touching distance of the old Rebel breastworks, right on the very apex of Missionary Ridge. I made one jump, and I heard Captain Turner, who had the very four Napoleon guns we had captured at Perryville, halloo out, "Number four, solid!" And then a roar. The next order was "Limber to the rear."

… The whole army was routed. I ran on down the ridge, and there was our regiment, the First Tennessee, with their guns stacked, and drawing rations as if nothing was going on. Says I, "Colonel Field, what's the matter? The whole army is routed and running; hadn't you better be getting away from here? The Yankees are not a hundred yards from here. Turner's battery has surrendered. Day's brigade has thrown down their arms; and look yonder; that is the Stars and Stripes." He remarked very coolly, "You seem to be demoralized. We've whipped them here. We've captured two thousand prisoners and five stands of colors."

Just at this time General Bragg and staff rode up. … Says he, "What's this? Ah, ha, have you stacked your arms for a surrender?" "No, sir," says Field. "Take arms, shoulder arms, by the right flank, file right, march," just as cool and deliberate as if on dress parade. Bragg looked scared. He had put spurs to his horse, and was running like a scared dog before Colonel Field had a chance to answer him. Every word of this is a fact. We at once became the rear guard of the whole army.

1861 vs. 1882: "Co. Aytch," Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment
Samuel R Watkins, 1882

"Co. Aytch": A Side Show of the Big Show; Macmillan Publ. Co., 1962
Co. Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of the Civil War; Simon & Shuster; 1990, p. 100-103






(enemies?)

1 TN, Co. H
Near Atlanta
July 1864

While I was looking toward the Yankee line, I saw a man riding leisurely along on horseback, and singing a sort of humdrum tune. I took him to be some old citizen. He rode on down the road toward me, and when he had approached, "Who goes there?" He immediately answered, "A friend." I thought that I recognized the voice in the darkness - and said I, "Advance, friend, but you are my prisoner." He rode on toward me, and I soon saw that it was Mr. Mumford Smith, the old sheriff of Maury county. I was very glad to see him, and as soon as the relief guard came, I went back to camp with him. I do not remember of ever in my life being more glad to see any person. He had brought a letter from home….

1861 vs. 1882: "Co. Aytch," Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment
Samuel R Watkins, 1882

"Co. Aytch": A Side Show of the Big Show; Macmillan Publ. Co., 1962
Co. Aytch: A Confederate Memoir of the Civil War; Simon & Shuster; 1990, p. 162

This was awesome...thanks for sharing this!

 

[Peace Society]

Here's another famous poem from the war, "The Picket Guard."
View attachment 427849

Research Guides: Lost Titles, Forgotten Rhymes: A Guide to Finding Novels, Stories, and Poems: Introduction

This guide provides tips for finding novels and other literary works when you can't recall the author's name or full title of the work.

www.loc.gov

Thank you, @Claude Bauer for this poignant poem.

 

[Peace Society]

A rather romantic viewpoint of some very dangerous details.
Lubliner.

Col. Lyman, being on Meade's staff, didn't get into the thick of things very often. He probably also tried not to alarm his wife when writing home.

 

[Peace Society]

2 CT
Near Thibodeaux, November 20, 1862

Brigade officer of the day yesterday; rode something like thirty miles visiting pickets; ten miles in the morning, ten in the afternoon, and ten at midnight. Miserable horses; saddle went to smash, miles from camp; had to draw my sword on plantation dogs. I would rather have marched thirty miles on foot. One result of this wearing job will be a short letter.

Cpt. John William De Forest
Letter to his wife

A Volunteer's Adventures
Yale University Press, New Haven CT, 1946, 1974

James H. Croushore, ed., 1996, p. 74
Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge

 

[Peace Society]

near Fairfax Court House, summer '61 to spring '62, Stuart's cavalry.

Until the spring of 1862 we did picket duty on the Potomac, a more agreeable duty than the routine of a camp. There were some skirmishes and many false alarms. A hog rooting or an old hare on its nocturnal rounds would often draw the fire of a vidette. My company went three times a week on picket and remained twenty-four hours, when we were relieved by another company.

John S Mosby
Memoirs, 1917

 

[Peace Society]

2 MI VI, near Bailey's Cross Roads, VA, 1861

August 27
Benson came running to me & said h--l is to pay we are all cut to pieces. I asked him what he meant. He replied that there had been a battle out on the road, that all our men had gone, been defeated & nearly all cut off. I at once concluded that he was excited. It turned out that the enemy had commenced driving our pickets and a skirmish had ensued. The long roll had been beaten & 800 men from the brigade sent out to reinforce the pickets. I have to go on picket to night. I dislike the business, it is going to rain hard & I am tired.

August 28
I went out with the Lieut. of the pickets abt 2 ½ miles to where a detachment of abt 300 of our men were stationed. They were at a four corners & extended along the roads in front & on the right & left. We stationed our guards between them & our camp at short intervals, some in the road & others in the fields. There were some 1200 men stationed in detachments outside of our pickets extending out abt 6 miles. The night was quiet, a few shots were fired but there was no general alarm.
During the day our pickets & the enemies keep within sight of each other but at night generally fall back a little.
The countersign was badly mixed last night by some one. It was in no less than 4 different shapes before morning. I think the Lieut. of the picket was partly at fault. He owned that he did not know certainly what it was.

August 31
The enemy have again commenced firing at such of our men as show themselves within range. All the officers dress exactly like the men to avoid being singled out. I yesterday pulled off my jacket which is dark blue, with light chevrons but when I saw where we were going I put it on again, thinking that my gray shirt might attract the fire of our own men sooner than the chevrons would that of the enemy.
1 P.M. A secession picket was shot a few minutes since by a N.Y. soldier who came out to try his gun. I would like to try mine but they wont let me. I have not yet fired a gun at a rebel. … It is strictly forbidden to us. I obey the orders myself but I have taken no great pains to stop the men. It is very provoking to have them fire without replying.

September 1, 1861
Sabbath morning 9 oclock. I am sitting behind a bunch of oak bushes, near a rail fence, about ½ mile from Bailey's Crossing, on Picket Guard watching for the villainous Secessionists. I have the charge, overseeing or command whichever you please to call it of 18 men stationed along on a line in groups of 3 having about 20 rods [110 yds] between groups [something over a ¼ mile for him to keep tabs on]. One of these three men is to keep watch while the rest lie on the ground, sleep or whatever they please except leave their posts or make a noise. My business is to see that they attend to their business, to go up & down the line every 2 hours & see what they have discovered & what they are about. We are kept at this business for 24 hours. The Rebels shoot at us or not as they feel inclined & we return their fire if they shoot too close or advance.
About 10 A.M. another detachment came up from camp & relieved us. We set out for home, as we call it, but before we got there met Gen. Richardson who detailed us all to chop for the balance of the day. He has located a new fort on a spot which had escaped the attention of the engineers although it is said by McClellan to be the most important one in the line of defence. McClellan at once ordered him to have a fort constructed.
All the ground around about was covered with trees and it required some hundreds of acres to be chopped. We would go to the devil to please Richardson & as he asked us to chop with unusual mildness of manner & explained the whole thing we went willingly. One field of near ten acres which had once been ploughed & cultivated was grown over with scrub pines from 10 to 20 feet high & that too within sight of Washington, Georgetown & Alexandria.

September 5
Everything was so quiet during the day that we thought something must be wrong. I posted the camp guard as pickets after dark. Some of them showed the white feather badly. I would get them together in part & while looking for the rest some of the first were sure to sly off & hide themselves. I was more than two hours, & did an immense sight of swearing, in getting them out. … It commenced raining about 8 this m'g & rained till dark. We were relieved about 10 A.M. & set out for home where we arrived in due time well wet & covered with mud.
We are in as much danger from our own men as from the enemy. Not less than 6 or 8 have been accidentally shot since we left Detroit.

September 10
Hereafter there is no fatigue duty for the 2d but they have to do all the picket duty at this place. This is a little tedious but after all a fine thing. A third of the Regt. marches out every day. It gives them a march 5 miles out on one day & 5 back the next, a view of the enemy & a chance to exchange shots. All things considered it is an excellent school.
One of our pickets yesterday stumped a Secesh to lay down guns & meet half way to trade newspapers, offering a N.Y. Times for a Charleston Mercury. The soldier was willing to do it but his officer would not let him. Two of our Capts. crossed the lines this P.M. & held a conference with a Major & Capt. of the Rebels during which it was agreed that the pickets should not hereafter fire on each other. They had a very friendly interview & talked over matters for near an hour. They were from the Va. 2d.


September 11
They commenced firing abt 1 this m'g & kept it up briskly all the rest of the time till daylight, I suppose more for the sake of getting the damp charges out of their guns than from any expectation of hitting anybody. A few of their shots struck near our post but no one was injured. After daylight they did better shooting but still hit no one.
It was a positive relief to hear the firing commence last night. It was so dark, rainy & lonesome that it was cheering to hear men although you knew that they were firing at you.
The firing was kept up on their side all day but not returned by us. If I had have had a good gun I could have killed some of them. There were plenty of chances at 80 rods [440 yds., ¼ mile]. We suffered almost as much from the sun during the day as from the rain & cold during the night. We however laid on the bare sand & talked & joked away the time as best we could till sundown when we were relieved. My friend Sergt. Wilkinson of Co. K who was on the left had a narrow escape. A minnie ball tore off the side of his cap, cut a clean furrow through his hair & grazed the skin so as to make it bleed pretty rapidly. Half the width of the ball nearer & he would have got his discharge.


September 15
Our men are getting pretty well acquainted with the Virginia troops. They are talking backward & forward all the time & do not fire very much at each other. The fact is they - Va. men - don't care a great deal which whips. The S.C. men are rabid. There are many words between them & our men but they are all very uncivil. They will fire at us and yell out "take that you d---d Michiganders." Ours will reply "go to h--l you d---d fools you cant hit anybody" and all the other abusive remarks they can think of.

September 17
Our pickets & the enemies' have been talking together on the left all day. They have exchanged buttons, tobacco, cards, whiskey &c. One chap gave one of our men the name of his mistress in Charleston & urged him to call on her if he ever went there.
I went out to a post where they were troubling our pickets a good deal. I sat there a few minutes talking with the boys & seeing that the Rebels showed themselves pretty fair. I asked one of them to let me look at his minnie. I took it, looked at it for a minute, asked him a few questions about its shooting, raised the sight to the 400 yds. mark, placed the end of a board on the top of the little embankment in front, letting it slant back on to the ground, as I used to at home when shooting at a mark. I laid down on the board & did not wait more than ½ a minute before one showed himself. I took such aim as I thought ought to fetch him & I have good reason to believe it did.

September 18
I saw an article on picket firing this m'g in the Chicago Tribune which meets my views. Much is said of late about the barbarity of the practice but there is nothing makes soldiers so fast. The first time they get sight of the enemy on picket the men are all excitement & half of them will shoot off their guns before they are within a mile. Let them be out a week they will shoot at one another with as little concern as they would at squirrels. They will sit & talk & joke when the bullets come within from 3 to 10 feet & some of them much nearer or swing their hats & tell them to try it again. They are not of course to go out & shoot as fast as they can load unless the enemy should advance but merely exchange 6 or 8 shots per man each day when the chances are favorable. The loss will not as a general thing be great on either side. There is nothing like it to keep pickets awake nights.

For Country, Cause & Leader: The Civil War Journal of Charles B. Haydon
p. 79-91, ed. Stephen W. Sears, 1993, Ticknor & Fields, NY
the publisher has gone out of business, and Mr. Sears may have recently died, so request for permission has gone unanswered, and I have not been able to track down anyone else to ask

 

[Peace Society]

Brashear City, LA, sometime Aug/Spt 1863
12 CT

As I was inspecting pickets the other day three Butternuts came out of cover, and one of them took the trouble to fire at me. I could see him aiming, but as the distance across was a full half mile, I did not believe he could hit me, and so let my horse keep on at a walk. He made a good line shot, but sighted too high, for presently a hoarse leisurely humming passed thirty feet over my head. I pointed upward to let him know where the ball had gone, and waved my hat to signify that I entertained no hard feelings. Then, while he lazily reloaded his rifle, a wayside thicket slipped between us and put an end to our curious interview. I do not know the breadth of the Atchafalaya at this point, but I did not hear the report of the Enfield nor see its puff of smoke. If my beast had guessed what kind of fun was going on, he would probably have been anxious to get out of it and would have thought me lacking in horse sense.

Capt. John William De Forest

A Volunteer's Adventures
Yale University Press, New Haven CT, 1946, 1974
James H. Croushore, ed., 1996, p. 153-4
Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge

 

[Peace Society]

Sharing the picket with sharpshooters

North Anna, May 1864
11 NY Battery

The picket-firing and sharpshooting at North Anna was exceedingly severe and murderous. We were greatly annoyed by it, and as a campaign cannot be decided by killing a few hundred enlisted men - killing them most unfairly and when they were of necessity exposed, - it did seem as though the sharpshooting pests should have been suppressed. Our sharpshooters were as bad as the Confederates, and neither of them were of any account as far as decisive results were obtained. They could sneak around trees or lurk behind stumps, or cower in wells or in cellars, and from the safety of their lairs murder a few men. Put the sharpshooters in battle-line and they were no better, no more effective, than the infantry of the line, and they were not half as decent. There was an unwritten code of honor among the infantry that forbade the shooting of men while attending to the imperative calls of nature, and these sharpshooting brutes were constantly violating that rule. I hated sharpshooters, both Confederate and Union, in those days, and I was always glad to see them killed.

Frank Wilkeson
Recollections of a Private Soldier in the Army of the Potomac, 1897

Someone else who hated sharpshooters is Capt. Francis A. Donaldson, 1 CA/ 71 PA.
In his letters - Inside the Army of the Potomac, ed. J. G. Acken, 1998, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg PA, p.64-65 - he talks about their activities on his post; and after a particularly wanton series of murders, "Mr. Rifleman was requested to go somewhere else, as their presence was distasteful."

 

[LisaJ]

Here is an excerpt from a letter written by Confederate corporal Henry Jeffers, doing picket duty across the river from Yankees stationed at Port Royal, South Carolina:

Pocotaligo, March 29th, 1862
Dear Pa,

We have now commenced to do Picket duty and have not the safest post to guard. Our pickets are on Coosaw River opposite Halls Island. We can see the Yankees on the Island opposite and from their actions seem to be overlooking negros which we see at work in the fields. Some pickets who are near us and on whom our Safety much depends told their Captain that they would not stay in no such dangerous place.

The Captain told our pickets that if they heard an alarm they must look out for themselves as his men would not give us the alarm. This was just before dark. About 11 o'clock that night we heard four guns one after the other and then a scampering of horses. We laid low and waited for further developments, but all was quiet from that time untill morning. Of course it was all in the imagination that these fellows saw the enemy. . . .