The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-11

CAMP NEAR CBNfkEvILLK,
January 4th, 1862.
The long looked for Christmas has come
and gone. Everything that was done was
done with a view to the enhAnceme mt OF the
pleasures anticipa ted of the festive oc casion
Christmas Eve was welcomed with hearty
dem monstrat tfcns of joy and gladsome delight;
indeed, each man looked upon the other with
a manifest air Of satisfaction. Esg-nogg,.
with its effect consequent upon excessive In.
dulgen ce, was not rare. Boxes from our good
old homes far away came in in the very nick
Of time, filled to overfiowing with all imag-,
Unable niceties, thus reminding us that, dis
tant though we be from those who love us,
yet we are subjects Of thought and care. It
Is q most satisfying reflection. Let these be
the auspices under which we fight, and you
may rest assured there will be no lack OF dis
Advancement Of our country's interests and
in the maintenance of her proud nationality.
Each box contained some Of the good things
we usually get at home at such times-tur-
key, ham, sausage, spare-rib, chine. butter,
eggs, pies, cakes, etc. I an Of the unalterable
opinion that there 10 m ore pleasure in the
anticipation Of Chris TIM as and its imagined
pleasures than in tn cir actual realization
Boxes and such like are, I confidently believe,
a decided disadvantage. They disorder the
stomach, destroy, while they last, what reg
ularity we had attained to previous to their
coming. We have these good things; we
feel inclined to taste, and we keep tasting
between meals until we have, SO far from
taste, dissaste for dinner. This has been the
experience of all OF my mess, and 1t is not
confined alone to ourselves.
John Il. Bar leycorn was quite an intimate
companion of some OF the men-the former
occasionally preparing wreath, in which
the latter fell victims to the superior agility
of the former. An agreeable ydisappoint-
ment was experienced in that the guard
house was not increased in the number of
its inmates, SO the inference may be very
naturally drawn, notwithst tanding what
have said, that our Christmas passed off
pretty quietly.
The time between the holidays and New
Years day was spent on picket out. post No.
8, which has been assigned us for the winter.
Nothing occurred while we were there Wor-
thy of note. We were blessed with clear
weather, although it was quite cold. We
New Years day, which was pretty one, aud
which hope is a forerunner of many such
that are to follow. The day was celebrated by
active employment for the speedy com mpletion
of huts for the winter. The work is progress
ing now rapidly, the slight fall of snow and
hail last night being an incentive to renewed
efforts. But for the wind, which future
months have in store for us, I believe the
canvas would prove sufficient protection
against the cold.
The health of the regiment at present is
bad the prevalent disease being cold and its
concomitant affections. 1t is to be hoped
that the disease will be checked as soon as
the huts are finished and become dry enough
for use.
Considerable dissatisfaction is evinced at
the coercive feature of a proposed bill rela-
tive to the re. enlistment Of volunt teers for the
ensuing two years. believe, if let alone,
they will not be wanting in patriotism.
"R," 18Th Va. Res't.