The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-30
ESPECIAL coEHEspcxDgscs or Tns pIsPGreH
CAMP RoBEsrsoE, near Abingdon, Va, }

L
| CAMP RoB.srsos, near AbiD gdon ya,
| Decem Der 264h, 1861
am now to describe Christmas ut 4 ti,ig-
don and Camp Robertson. In the town
proper, the usuH demo nstra tions, il vol vim &
| i liberal CONSUMPTION of toypsdoes an. M, r.
Crackers. were INDUCED iD m uch TO ti.-. an
HoSdnce OF psacsabis-dlspossd ci.izs1s AID sol
Gicrs. b sides tll.ss, and ii Jolly eaniJ pic !.
Ing and darky dancing froiic, during Witch
| latter performance an rged colcred indi-
viduaa ty The mama OF HARRY D,I}ow ex.
pressed his qualification by saying 'sIle deb.
III DEM nlgger knee the village exhibit. EFT
little or 30 animation Enttl late IN the alter
room About O'Clock the advance troin OF
Gen. tioyd's Brigade, having on. board n
mississippi regiment aud the baggage Of the
Brigade, passed through Abingdon cheeriag y
and oeing ckeered at most Justify Their
destination is bowling Green.
The e"war' is assigned as the reason for tn
extreme dullneSs OF Christmas in Abin don.
and 1t appears te be q good ons for There ar e
lew lam niles here who have rot contributed
largely to the ranks OF the army Thus this
relentless invasion, while it causes the South
TO become independent OF Yankeedor1 and
detracts nothing from her resources OF labor,
breaks a thousand teTder ties and nothers
the Joyous mirth which Is ever wont to fiud
eTnpioym ent during the genial hours Of Christ
mas. insteaG OF the N O Their smiling over aH
her sons, some OF whom have come from dis-
tan. homes 20 spenc. the holidays around the
fond old family heArth, There is many q Ra-
chei weeping tears OF inconsolapis sorrow
over the new maze graves OF The loved n sd
lest! Even the stern Ingnhood OF Lhs fl In.
bends befora the stroke which cuts down his
noble boy, and every generous heart =, fnpa-
thises with him as, weighed down with care,
he exclaiIns, o, Absalozn, would to God 1
had died for thee 20
Blu. let ne leave this too fruitful theme
and pay visit to Camp Robertson Let me
see what the boys of the 80 ih are doing to
Kill Christmas. The means used for this
purpose are found as varied as the tastes and
Inciinations of the men are different For
instance, here is y fellow making a chin ey
composed of pieces of wood and mortar fc r
hls Ient Another, who is AL officer, and
can afford 10 buy bricks is engaged in erlct-
ing the same useful appendage in u higher
state Of the art Here is II squad sitting Il cd
lying on the rude benches around the fire
chatting aud smoking. There is a mess qut +.
city discussing their frugal FIRE. In the next
tent some dozen have fallea asleep, ano, it
may be, are dreaming OF home, sweet home
J nst here II fellow, who believes Ia supply
ing his lower story beautifully, is skinning
an old hare which he has kiiIt with stone.
A party are out on scout, each Insn provided
with rock in his hand, aat possi bly,, a
brick In his hat looking Tor the s. ma SORT of
game. As l glide along through the en-
campment, the sounds OF stirring music
reach my ears, and stop to IisieA. Two
amateurs are making the baHj hLd violin
give for In their notes in sweet accord. Pes.
entity the music ceases, and near the wood
mans axe, which indicates the app olch of
night, and preparation for a q blazing log. ~
a lone rooster, cOoped Al rude trians ular
pen, now crows his last COW, and re ,iIes
for the evening. Hugh of GoIapary i
with a lively lot OF angles, has arrived, wi h
Il "f.ne string of thirty, fully in tine 10
get his supper. Sundry congratulations are
showefed on him, OF which the following is
a sstmp pie Hugh, you are The iucki-st fish :
efman ever saw. How many did you
eatchf' "Old fellow, you are so luck, -
Get u few for our mess!" Hugh divides tie
fish are served a Ia mode, and q most intsrs ST.
ing discussion follows. .,ta v4s... ;,se :. .t
| Although IL might be supposed that amid
the temptations which Christmas. bTiags
| drunkenness would run riot IN u camp, .yst,
I saw no one intoxicat ted 1T Camp Robertson
which circumstance speaks well for the 5oth
The men were geaial without being bo.s ter
| GUS, merry wiihoat madness, and aigni fled
sun feli on the adjacent mountain ranges
them coul boast Of Aoae, a. scene OF inde
the appearance OF u splendid, snrging sea 0
| molten geld ~.
| A dispatch from General Marshall asst
| Dec. 22nd, 20 which am peTnittsd 10 hay,
access by the popular and aecomInoi a lin 8
/ Z QaarteImaster OF the 5G,h Regiment, Df. X
| Is. Patterson, Teads as ;oiioWs,-"The alem,
| in front at Louisa in large force-tifteeY
l hundred Cavalry, and seven Regiments o.
| Infantry and Artillel y-thirty TWO mile
from me. An army Is coilec lag to driv,
me apd intends 10 advance at ence I am in
| formed +" As consequence OF this dis ate |,
there is considerable nustle IN the Quarter
msstar's Department, and horses are bsir.
impressed RAPIDLY. F 49, gcoAsras.IF