Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-01-02
Letter from suffolIk. Va.
Correspondence of the Fremont Journal.


CAMP SUFFOLK, Va, Dec. 25th 1862
FRIEND DKEELER:-Perhaps some of your rea-
ders would like to know how Christmas is spent
in the army. To-day has been lively day in
this section, and various kinds of onGsements
have bv~n going on for the purpose of driving
away dull core, and to make the weary hours
pass galy. On yesterday about o'clock r.
NJ, we received orders from Gen. Dix TO be rea-
dy to move at moments notice. At first it
was supposed to be ruse to prevent the officers
and men from going down town, as their vas to
be grand Soireo at Gen. Peck's Head Quarters.
(fhe General being away.) Every thing re-
NAMED IN statu quo during the night and in
the morning we found ourselves as much in the
dark ms regarded the order as at the moment OF
its issue. Tho officers and men were not kept
out of town, and but very little time was spent
IN thinking of the expected move, for as soon as
darkness set in the curtain was raised and the
performance commenced. The ball was opened
by continuous yell from one end Of the camp
to the other. Guns and rockets were fired, and
every body seemed TO be on the eve of a gener-
al Jollihcation, which was kept up until well
nigh the hour for rcvA2o. All this time few of
the silent ones were stripping the light fantastic
toe with the fair ones who have como to see
their friends sway down South in Dixie"
Alter the excitement had somewhat subsided
and all hands had returned to the Camp to get
their "hard tack and coffee" we received orders
to prepare ourselves for permanent move, and
to hold ourselves in readiness to move on short
notice, but not a word as to time or direction
Soon after breakfast, Col. Spear and all the
Commissioned officers of the Ilth Pennsylvania
Cavalry started down town to make Christmas
calls. They dismounted in front of Gen. Fer
rvs Headquarters and called upon the General
in body, during which time their brass band
discoursed some very mellodious chords. The
same performances were gone through with at
the tn, Headquarters of Generals Foster and Gibbs.
They were followed by the officers and band of
the lst New York mounted Rifles which went
through with the same programme. The per-
formance in the afternoon consisted, first Of a |
company OF the lst New York Mounted Rifles, |
on AfHtcs with wooden swords from six to eight
feet long and dressed in the comic STYLE of a |
mounted "Buttemut-nO two of them being |
dressed alike. Among the last was an old man
with white cotton blouse, with the figures
1872, U. s., on the back, and by his side an old
wench, with one leg on each side of the horse.
They were followed by company of infantry |
in the pure genuine "butternut" dress, perform
ing all the different evolutions of a company, |
and winding up with comic skirmsh dill
They Were followed by a Gee Cub of persons,
drawn by eight mules. The Generals each had
a song, which closed the performance, and the |
curtain fell at precisely O'clock
Nothing further is known of our destination,
but am of the opinion that my next letter will |
be from N. O. instead of Va. Some think our
point lays by way Of Summerton and Winton.
and others by way of Norfolk, Fortress Monroe
and Newbern. Still all this may be wrong, and
we may go North. The weather is very pleas
ant, being something after the style Of our
Northern Indian Summer
Greenbacks are in great demand and gold is
entirely forgotten. There is not dollar in Fer
rvs Brigade. Six months pay is due us now,
and if the Paymaster- don't soon come around,
will file charges against him for absence NTH
out iedve. Yours, JC q