Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-12-31

pies aie in the market places. Sausages OF
doubtful composition and buckwheat cakes are
yet sra-ed for thy bodily comfort
The holly tree spreada its branches-and i'a e
leaves are green, and the cedar is indigenous o
to the country
Why cant ye be glad in thy heart eat, 9
drink aud be merry, II ye are strangers on
the PENINSULA Ye are valiant aad strong
Thy friends who sojourn Mt bone VIII nave
good time, so shall ye have. There is nopSn'
N The Reguations-the Book oil the so'u'e'S-
iorhlding thee to be happy.
Let there be meat offerings, and let tnere
he drink offerings to Bacehus tho god oil hghi
heart. 49,,
Arise early, oh man. even when the chick
on shall crow as an harhingsr of the coming
morn Law down thy armp, intent only on the
enjoyment Of the time. l
Lei moi the married man think too much
about the wife and the children, and Of the
domestio comforts once his; nor the slhsle |
man think Of the girl he left behind; Tor suoh
thoughts are unWise think mot Of the gay
CestaI occasions in social life where gentle
amenities prevail and joys abound
Thy female friends ut home, mindful oi my
comfort, are plying the busy finger, knitting
socks and gloves for the brave soldier, think'
ing of thee Of stout heart and really hands
in the service Of thy country, and OF iestlV',
ties when the evergreen shall tieshen anu
aiorn the room the yule log be consumed on
the hearth stone the little ones suspend tue"
tiny stockings from the nail in the chimney,
and dream of my nutquated self and OF the
accompaniments OF my vsiis-sugar plnms'
hobby horses and dol, babies, and Christmas
trees towering In all colois with gum drops
and mint buttons.
With this the popular Saint concluded.
I The inen were well pleased with his slyle' anu
. looked much more inspired Amt as Tie htUe
a IL al Ia. ~
tion 10 the other encampments on tue hclu, tney
gave hir three cheers and hger win such
= will that one might have supposed they had met
u The enemy and gained glorious victory, 20 en-
II thusiastic Wns the shout M ,
/. But we could not avoid the thought SAINT NICK
had given some very bad advice about preparing
and imbibipg certain admxtnres OF eggs, mill
is and brandy. We had supposed before, he wa
T. some what tee,Otaler aud merely tolerated ,n'
"A practice: but we presume he has modified nl
temperance principles slightly in view oil ih
le wants Of the grand army at season Wneh III
D thinks a littlo license is allowable. BE that
~ il may il is comforting 10 reflect that he u'd no
appear to wish TO make II imperative on all
eel tiqbt on Characteristic Christmas DRINKS
O. By The way, big time is anticipated her
80. ., the night before Christmas" We hear @
' certain plaus laid out to increase the store
III endowment, and of certain bOltles-not empty {
2 smuppled iu for purposes not herein srtcihet
or We will give you in our next mn iniiination {
:. the manner in which the holidays passed.
!" On Sunday afternoon, we were favored win
as little salutary excitement. Word came in thi
is there was skirmish between u body of reb
,, cavalry and two companies Of German reg
- ment who had gone out Ou scout. Assistant
ne was Immediately sent from the German cam
mt As company after company proceeded across Il
as field at double quick, some little interest WI
awakened for the affair had the appearance
II Il aha lan Hna
res that leads TO Hampton looking for some messe
,or ger with intelligence from the scene. Men
~. horseback were galoping to and fro: all beg
~ to get in readiness for general engagemel
The officers and soldiers who were left benin
ascended the highest points, straining their ey
in the endeayor to get glimpse of the smoke
dc the musket or the gleatn Of the hayonet in I
distance.
But soon the ambnlances which had bPen Sc
ont returned with few wounded, and vi
them the intelligence that the skirmsh hal Il
minated The rebel cavalry retreated lea'i
six men and fifteen horses dead on the he
None of tbs German Regiment was kill'
teu % though several were wounded. This affair look
Ihe n. more ike soldering in earnest than anything
-ias ii's have seen since our arrival here.
!, ,nn u We regret to announce the resignation
! OF Cant. f. j. Smithers from our Regime
tue Enochs departure will leave Il vacuum which
j., will he difficult to fill lie was sOclable, CO.
'ne panionable and popular With his men, which
ave P'i,'o s,oaJ ,as, or a comnanv commando
anu qualities Of head and heart. Additionally
car, standing among his brother officers was exc
'oru lent. Such men are missed sensibly in a mi
orus tary organization. We wish for him duties m
aess pleasant than picket duty, and n life as con
s'ar nial to his tastes as he can desire. These
a'nS the kind Of blessings that we conld ask for Ii
'ela- nnn;sbment mnst he sometimes? There
u 10 various methods of causing him to remem
sers' certain little departures from known mlit
IL 10 rules and regulations. A man whose oilvnc
not very grievOus, is sentenced To police
on grounds, which means that he shall sweep Il
'au- 'u with brush broom.
OH For some omission Of duty he is placed
knapsack drill that is, he is obliged to
our with his crowded knapsack on and thus m
tna' INA himself " the observed of all observers"
oD' Sometimes he is sentenced tO carry ]
Il, to s,icl of wood on his shoulders for n Ger
number of hours. If he is of an agreeable
i 'he position, he laughs and makes light of it, il
larks cca,i, nota Iirht of the stiek And one q
nose nose avoid smile TO see him passing up and de
lleu the avenue with billet OH his shoulder, wi
i'nss he is shifting ever aud anon.
long For more henous offences, a different pun
ment is devised. The offender is obliged TO '
war a barrel over his body and to walk to aud
'ha' before the guard house several hours every
seen All that see him, wonder where the man dis
Hlleu cred that novel fashion Of dressing, aud th
man that his garments don't ct him very we'll
'yons they are made entirely too large for him,
that the material il very hard and inela
nrin Such styles of dress will be adopted no "
us ne else than in the army.
enng Yours, BILL