Newbern weekly progress., 1862-01-07

then will he carry the flag of England with hon
or and safety through war better than any man
of the pre- sent day. (Protracted cheering
The noble lord was about to resume his seat
when, recollecting he had been frequently in
terrupted by an individual in the hall during
the latter portion Of his Speech he said: Be
fore l retire beg to say | forgive my friend
who has SO interrupted me. | will make
present of him to the Yankees, and hope they
will never send him back again.
The id took and the auditors cheered so
vociforiously that they possible forgot 10 look
out for the "Yankce present. or he woald
certainly have been despatched as far as the
door on his intended journey.
Mr.. Harvey Lewis next came forward to ad-
dress the meeting. and was well receive d.
although laboring, he did, under the dsad-
vantage of speaking after the patience of the NEE
ting had f'een somewhat exhausted. He was
casionay subjected TO interruptions With refe-
renee to the American question, he said that the
might and majesty of England shonld uever be
impaired, and sooner than be one of those who
would see the honor and dignity of this country
lower d, he would resign all claim TO the position
which he hrn occupied, and which he 50 highly
valued. (Cheers) lie did not believe that the
men of Maj ylebone, who had sympar hzed with
oppressed nationaities, and who had aided i'll
turning out government because in DIR Ber
nard's case they believed they pondere1 to for
eign potentate, would see the flag OF England in
suited Cloud cheers) This country had at first
ben misled by the Northern States, thinking they
were making var for principle dear to US, the
abolition of slavery, bnt 1t was mere pretence.
Before month WAS over our starving artisans
would feel the effects Of " hat after ALL but
paper blockade. The Northern States had treat
ed US with open contempt, They had committed
"a gross outrage in seizing on the island
of ST. Juan and now, because had borne
with them, they had violate the British flag:
ever held sacred. and the asylum which Britain
ever afforded. He did not believe that Engla'
wished for peace at any price (cheer)-and re-
ferrng the idea promulgated by the United
States newspapers, he quoted the speech recently
delivered by Mr. Disaraeli on this subject. lie
thought that when Lord Palmerston was at the
head Of affairs. and Earl Russell was Foreign
Minister, the honor and dgniry of England would
remain unimpaired. (Cheers J
We are permitted to publish the following
interesting extract from an officer in the army
of the Potomac and resident of this town
22ND RECT NORTH CAROLINA TRooPs,l
12rH VoIuSTEERs)
Evansport, Va, Dec. 81 1861. }
x = The hallowed season Of Christ
mas-an anniversary SO endeared to every
Southern heart-was not allowed to pass un
noticed by our Regiment. Its observance was
such pleasant and unusual variation to the
monotonous routine fcamp life and duty; to
us a series Of drills, fatigne parti s, camp and
pick It guards, enliUened by the frequent visit
of shot or shell from the encny's batteries op
posite. or by wild rush. to own bate
ries and rifle pits for the purpose of repelling
an imaginary landing of an equally imaginary
foe; these last usually occurring some dismal
night when the rain, wind, s!eet and mud do
not offer sufficient attractions to cause us to
prefer damp rifle pit to our tents with their
snug Ere places. So pleasant was it, l say,
that am falH to give you some account OF 1t.
On Christmas the portion of the Req
,ment not Oh duty was busy decorating the
camp with evergeens, the result OF their labor
appearing in beautiful arches, festoons, Wreaths,
&C., of holly, cedar and ln'stletoe tasteful'y
intermngled. On Christmas morning 1t was
announced to the Regiment that the company
making the five best average shots would be
presented with fine pig, weighing 239 lbs.
net the gift Of our Colonel, q. Johnston Petit
grew the distance ofthe object to be fired at
to be 100 yards, the weapon, the smooth bore
musket, the mark, board two feet square, up
on which was painted series OF concentrc
ellpses At the ~ Assembly" the Regiment
fell in" and at the call :" to toe Colour
formed promptly and in full force upon the
Colour line The line eff march then ia
ken up for the parade ground, where, line OF
battle being formed, the maThsmen took post
upon the left. TO realize the striking and pic
turesque appearance the Regiment presented,
1t should have been Seen-eacn man Will his
hat aud musket decorated with sprig OF
holly and mistle.o-the officers with their caps
and swords ornamented IN like manner, Civ
the whole an appearance at once SO unique
and unusual, yet str kingiy appropriate to
the Joyous occasion were celebrating as to
draw exclamations OF admiration from all by
ISLANDERS.
Arrived at the place selected for the trial Of
skill, arms were stacked, the marksmen-hVe
in number from each company-advanced to
the front under command ofthe Sergeant MAYOR,
and the firing commenced. / will act enter
nelghbors, whom we see daily on the opposite
of that splendid looking body Of muskcteers.
The firing over, the Regiment again fell in,
formed square ana were all "Attenti0n" to hear
the result which was as follows:
The best single shot was tie between Com
panies E and F, (Capt. c. c. Cole and p. B.
Reeves respectively ; the five best average
shots were made by Co. L. to whose Captain
(Robert II. Gray,) his "Porclne" majesty was
TUNED over for the company in a very neat
speech from Lieut.. Col Long. That ceremony
over we returned to camp and devoted the re-
mainder of the day to festivity and be it said
to our credit, and in confirmation of the high
character the REGIMENT has so justly sus-
tanned wherever stationed, that nothing occurred
during the whole day to mar its harllony-no
rioting, nor misbehavior Of any kind. Long
will the recollectio of our Christmas, passed
so pleasantly on the bleak hills of Evansport,
remain green in the memory Of the Reg gment,
and much will it tend to strengthen the kind
feeling and confidence already SubSStlng be-
tween our officers and men