"About this time the soldiers on both sides had considerable amusement over a Federal signal station that was inside our lines as we had laid them. The Union troops had some time previously trimmed up a tall pine-tree and built near the top a platform for use as a signal station, and, coming upon this, to gratify his curiosity a Confederate soldier climbed to the staging and seated himself for a leisurely view of the Federal forces inside their works. An artillerist of the other side, after allowing sufficient time to satisfy a reasonable curiosity, trained one of his rifle guns upon the platform, and sent a shell screaming and bursting too near for the comfort of the "man up a tree." As he did not care to be seen in precipitate retreat, he thought to wait a little, but a second shot admonished him that hurry, if less graceful, might be more wise than deliberate retreat. Acting under pressure of the situation, his legs, to the amusement of the men on both sides, soon brought him to save cover. When night closed in over the belligerents this soldier went to work on a scheme by which he hoped to get even with the Yankees. He carefully constructed and equipped a full-sized man, dressed in a new suit of improved 'butternut' dry goods, and, in due form christening him 'Julius Caesar,' took him to the platform, adjusted him to a graceful position, and made him secure to the framework by strong cords. A little after sunrise 'Julius Caesar' was discovered by some of the Federal battery officers, who prepared for the target,-- so inviting to skillful practice. The new soldier sat under the hot fire with irritating indifference until the Confederates, not able to restrain their hilarity, exposed the joke by calling for 'three cheers for Julius Caesar.' The other side quickly recognized the situation, and goodnaturedly added to ours their cheers for the old hero."
Source: From Manassas to Appomattox
Commentary
In his memoirs General Longstreet gives the following amusing anecdote of an occurrence around Suffolk.