3-003-684 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Civil War in America: how the outlying sentries of the Federal Army are killed by secessionist scouts, 1861. 'Charges of brutality, and even of assassination, are rife in the Unionist camp against the Secessionists, who, doubtless, have counter-charges with which they also could horrify us, had they, like their rivals, the ear of Europe; for all camps are sure to be infested with desperadoes who, under the garb of patriotism, prowl about to gratify their own evil purposes. The sentry duty at the front of tie Unionist camp is, we are told, exceedingly hazardous and very few of those who are posted at night expect to see another day dawn. The country all round is thickly covered with wood, and in the darkness the Secessionists, acquainted with every cowpath. creep softly towards the poor fellow pacing to and fro on the road, taking advantage of every shadow, and profiting by the rustle of every felling leaf, until close upon him, where either the bowie-knife or a rifle-shot does the rest'. From "Illustrated London News", 1861.