The Federal pickets.
--Adjutant G. W. Alexander, on his recent remarkable trip of adventures from Fort McHenry, recounts a good joke, as follows: Three Irishmen came to a house where the Adjutant lay concealed. They represented themselves as deserters from the Lincolnites army, and begged means to assist them home — not wishing to serve a despot any longer, &c., &c. They were closely questioned, and at last the following clincher was put; ‘"How did you get by the pickets?"’ ‘"And, by jabbers, weren't we the pickets — do you mind that?"’ This was sufficient; they received assistance, and went on their way.
