The New York herald., 1862-01-09
GENERAL MANsFIELD's DIVISION.

OUR NEWPORT NEWS CORRESPONDENCE.
CAxP BUTLER, NEwpoRr News, Va, Jan. 8, 1862.
How the Hotiiays Were Spent IN Camp-L0rge CA'lsmas
Tree sciA Prsnas for the Soldis-Santa CLAUS Glad IN
".Shoddy"-Nao Years. Calls in Regular Stys-Or Re-
turned P,Isomevs-Adecting Scenes-Grsot Bottle Day
Before Chrismas-W Want Of Reading Aatter for I've Sol
disrs, dc.
we the holidays are all over, and with them all the
legitimate and III gtmate pleasures some drunkenness,
of course, but great deal Of true homeke happiness
has reigned in camp; and II friends far of have
thought kindly u.s. have thought mono the less of
them ardently hoped that Christmas will bring
peace the land joy In those homes where now so
many chair ia vacant In tho Seventh regiment New
York Volunteers Christmas spent in regular Old Teu
tonic STYLE The officers had each contributed small
sum, with which we bought presents Of various kinds to
adorn huge Christmas that planted in front OF
the Colones quarters There were ppesthe short Irish
and The long utchpacks Of cards pocket handercnefs,
and hundred ether tribes mention but
what attracted most attention Of all was an egy OF santa
Claus dressed in one OF the "shoddy" uni
70. ms He of course created great deal Of fun and
in fact the hero Of the evening. The bant dscoursed
sweet music' oil th evening, and each company gori-
in the extra allowance OF two kegs OF lager bier
many OF the officers had arraI ged the own private
ieasts and, taking IL altogether, Christmas Eve was
ent in joyous and orderly maj ner. II was delight
fu relief from the dull monotony on camp lne
New Years day kept generally in great STYLE and
calls wore made alter regular knckerbocker fashion.
Several Of the officers, eminent amongst them surgeon
Howe and Captain Berg o the First No2 Work regiment
Vol nteers had tables set, and visiting was Kept up all
day long or course great deal of fun was Created
bat could not help regrettng that the dear ladies'
far away to do the real honors such occa
sion No less than hundred and seventy yeigh pack
ages were received the soldiers by the Adams Ex
press Company on New Years. Eve and as "some'' Of
them contained bottles few dsracefu scenes were the
conselueDce. Since then the express packages arc
opened, the custom during last summer and fall,
and this Of course acts a an eectua check on the intro
ducion Of the ''dcmon."
The scene when the steamer George Washington which
brought down our released prisoners Friday last,
landed at dock cannot well bo described by words.
ch eAcaations Of JOY when friend recognized friend
many months Of absence and suffering II s said
that OF the released soldiers, Of nearly nfty
years age when no board the George Wash
ington clasped the stall On which our hobio lag was
h0isted and wept for joy Some Of the members OF the
old ''Fire Zouave" regiment smuggied themselves on
shore and stated their willingness to eenst for
full three years with their friends In the Eleventh.
Their expressions OF pleasure at meeting again were
| p culiar TO the " fire boys"
must not omit to mention that our camp was alarmed
the day before Christmas, by the report that the
enemy approaching In large force General Mans
field couple OF regiments, who proceeded as
| far as Newmarket bridge; but, not finding solitary
enemy there, they retu ned improving the oppo tuny
TO seize number Oh secession geese and turkeys whch
after resistance, ccessfuly overpowcrec
and trumphlntly brought into camp. am glad " say
that side none were hurt, but ON the enemys side
sSs'y ss one had to 'a'' 'n' extreme penalty '' H'
The soldiers are all comfortably housed in their snul
barracks and all thoughts are bent find how
relieve the monotony the long winter days IL would
be real blessing oi the philanthropc friends Of
the soldiers would send good selection oil books Oui
relgo1 friends have supplied bountully with books
and panI hes in their special line, and say all honor
their noble Efforts to prtnote mo- aity anc
order In the camps but the soldiers mind requires
much his body variety OF food. aad little Of the
lighter kind Of utal food such works on history
| travels and good novels, would DO highly acceptable
Zach company could of their number TO act
librarian anu have no do~bt would cheer.uy return
the books at th end Oh the winter, the donors SO de
sired If we correct the Adams Express has offered
transmit packages containing such gifts free OF chai sc
Anything that prevent the soldier from getting ntc
idle dsspa ed habits merits tue attention OF every one
who has the welfare and discipline Of the army at heart