April 3 and 4 — On picket. Colonel Ashby rides along his picket line every day. I heard him say today that when the Yankee pickets fire at him, which they sometimes do, he stops and sits on his horse right still, without dodging or moving in the least, and he advised his picket to do likewise. He said that he has observed that if at long range he holds still without evincing any sign of fear or danger by moving or dodging, a sharpshooter or picket will hardly ever fire more than once at him from the same position, as his bold and unconcerned demeanor convinces the Yank at once that the object of his fire is beyond the range and reach of his rifle.
