Requires nerve, pluck, brain and deliberate will.
He protects the main army back in the rear,
And watches each movement with trembling and fear;
If the enemy makes a hostile move he does not run
But warns his friends in the rear by firing his gun.
Then the pickets exchange some hasty shots,
Fall back in line and things get hot.
Picket or Scout.—Different phases of soldier life have been partially explained, but the elements that enter into the make up or the varied experience of the successful sharpshooter or scout are beyond description. Take the foremost soldier in the army whose energy, pluck and daring deeds of valor have aided him in forging his way to the front, then add all the nerve, fearlessness, disregard of danger, determination to surmount all obstacles and you get only a faint idea of the sturdy firm, intrepid picket or scout, looking not for trouble but for adventure. History often records raids made by such dashing leaders as Jackson, Stuart, Morgan or leaders of that character with picked men. Such leaders select from different commands men who have passed through firey ordeals and have been weighed in the balance and found not wanting. With such soldiers wonderful victories have been achieved that would have been failures with a different class of men. The common soldier on the skirmish line however courageous he may be finds himself facing a problem that calls into play some traits of the soldier that he does not possess. The picket lines were often very close together, sometimes on friendly terms and sometimes hostile to each other.
On The Picket Line.—In the night time the lines have been near enough to hear pickets in the opposite line talking in a low tone, but usually the lines were further apart. A very slight demonstration on the picket line sometimes precipitated a fight. The sentinels on the lines of the two armies were at one time respectively walking their beats on opposite sides of the Rapahannock river in plain view of each other. A sentinel on post on one of the lines playfully pointed his gun at the sentinel on post opposite him on the other side and was at once shot at by the sentinel, who took the matter seriously. There was something doing along the line for a little while but the situation was soon understood, the excitement subsided and the sentinels resumed their places, walking their beats but refrained from quite so much familiarity.
Exchange of Courtesies.—Sentinels on post on the picket lines representing the opposing armies often exchanged courtesies and greetings and on the sly met between the lines, exchanged daily papers, swapped tobacco for coffee, had a pleasant chat with each other and returned to their respective posts with the kindliest feelings. The following lines demonstrate or illustrate the friendly feeling that prevailed among the soldiers of the two opposing armies.