Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-01-09
Correspondence Of the Free Press.l
FROM THE 18TH REGIMENT.
CANT NEAR FAIRFAx c. H.,
Dec. 18th, 1862

| DrGT Free Press:
Those who suppose our life in the army an
idle one should try it awhile. Yesterday being
Christmas, was comparatively leisure day, but
most every hour of the day has its duty, and
we are not allowed the long evenings, in which
i so much is done at home. Lights must be out
in all the tents at Q O'Clock, and we rarely light
I up in the morning; the consequence Is that we
I make long nights rests Of it and spend time in
Z sleeping which oftentimes We would gladly spend
/ in writing to our friends at home.
New Years day has almost come If We here
are not obliged to celebrate it by marching
through sleet and mud | shall be glad. We
had a very fair Christmas in camp. The day
was as mild as May, as is today also. By hard
work the day before, our mess had 8. stockaied''
our tent that Is, raised it up some three or four
feet on sides of logs laid like log house; it is
in fact a little log house with a canvass rooE-
We have in it a very good California stovc-a
sheet of iron over square hole in the ground,
with fue leading to little chimney Of brick
and stovepipe outside-and as we have been con-
fined Of late to rations Of hard tack and salt
pork, We decided to have a special Christmas
dinner
We got some excellent oysters Of the sutler,
also some potstoes-yery nice ones. Two # the
boys went of to a nice, clean, free-negro family,
about mile of, and got two quarts Of rich milk
some hickory nuts, and some dried peaches. I
oficiated as cook. and, a. all agreed, got up
a capital dinner. ! made as good aa oyster
soup as one often gets. using that tin pail which
came with ginger snaps. as kettle-also fried
some oysters with bread-crumbs-for we are the
fortunate owners Of fryins-pan in our tent.
The potatoes were boiled in a shallow tin pan.
and were as mealy as any ever ate. We had,
besides. good Vermont butter, nice boiled pork,
good bread. and made luxurious meal, closing
with nuts raisins and apples, and cocoa-nut cakes
lust sent to one Of our mess from home. For
supper We had rice and milk. and stewei phIn>
unfortunately the last Of nice lot If drei
ones sent for thanksgiving. Now that j. not
such bad living for poor soldiers, l. it: We do
not have it every day, though; but we have had
many Injuries since cur Thanksgiving boxes came
We have very pleasant camp ground just
now. and if allowed to remain. shall make cur
selves quite comfortable
We had a visit from DR.. Thayer in our tent to-
night 1t was good for sore eyes TO see the Doc
tor and hear directly from home ; and he viii tell
YOU when he gets back that he found here a right
hearty looking 1T Of fellows.
Dc. 9th.
did not get this letter Of this morning. and
have Just time to say that We are in quite "a stir
tonight Cannonading has been heard 10 the
South all the afternoon. and We are under or
ders to march at moments notice. with one
days cooked rations. It Is probably only ord
nance practice somewhere, hut may be an en-
gagement. It Is rumorei that We are TO be or
derei forward in course Of a week. but DO not
know what foundation there T. for the rlmor.
Your. C.