Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-29
CONFEDERATE CHRISTMAS,

The confederate troops had scarcely set
tied down after the movements and excite.
ments attending the repulse OF Gen. Burn
sides army at Fredericksburg, when the
merry Christmas time was upon them. They
had not as yet gone into winter quarters,
and the dilapidated tents which only par
italy sheltered them caused much suffering,
for the weather had turced intensely cold.
The boys were looking forward to Christ
mas, however, as it was anticipated that
double rations aud some extras would be is
sued on that day, and we had been living on
poor fare for some time. The country
around had been swept as hare as the palm
of the hand by the foraging parties, AID
fowls or fresh meat were not 10 be had al
any price Moreover, while tie bulk ofthe
troops might hope to receive boxes OF good
things from home, our regiment had no such
prospects, for the federal forces lay between
us and those gho loved us 1t will b. seen,
therefore, that the doubleration question
had an especial interest for US. Well,
Christmas morning dawned clear and cold,
and sure enough the commssary dealt out
double rations Of fresh meat, with beans and
moasses, and, best Of all, some captured
cofIee-a rare treat for us. The boys had
also managed TO secure enough apple brandy
by running the pickels, risking their lives
to DO so, to give all q Christmas iolliication.
Well, the feast was being prepared in the
innunerably various styles peculiar to the
cuisine of Old soldiers, and the men were
walking around impatientiy aud eagerly
shifting up the savory odors waited through
the camp. All was joyous expectation and
watering OF the mouth.
Suddenly the drummer boy popped out Of
his tent and began furiously beating the
weli.known "long roll," and the adjutant
came hurrying through the companies, di-
recting the captains to get their men under
arms Immediately, with such rationsas they
had, and two extra packages of cartridges
rolled in the blankets. II ever a set Of men
were ineflaoly disappointed and dissusted
we were then. Had volcano suddenly
belched forth in our midst we could not
nave been worse confounded. What the
d is up now?" was growled on every
side However, there was no use crying
over split milk, so to speak, and, snatching
up the half-cooked viands, we were soon
formed and on the march. Il was then ru-
mored that the enemy's cavalry had crossed
at United States ford, above Fredericksburg,
and were cavorting about III rear CT tho
army with the evident intent Of burningthe
bridges and tearing up the track ofthe Cen
tral railroad. Our march across the coun-
try, and a rough country it was, was forced
from the start, and for some fifteen miles
there was hardly pause to draw breath.
Tie command suffered greatly for want OF
water, too, because nearly every man had
pint or two of apple.jack in his canteeD, and
nobody dreamed of substituting water there
for. We reached the point to which we
had been ordered about midnight, and lay
on our arms till daybreak without being
permitted to build fires.
Tired and shivering with cold the soldiers
huddled together, expecting, however, TO
have warm work when the day broke. Will
it be believed that when the sun had mount
ed an hour or so on aid decamp of Long
streets rode iato the bivouac and informed
the commander of the expedition that the
enemy bad returned to his lines; in fact, it
was q false alarm. Uncle Toby says that
'our army in Flanders swore terribly" but
I venture to say that they did not exceed in
that respect the men of our regiment on
this occasion. We marched back to our
camp moodily and wearily, and | venture
to say the most disgusted set of privates in
Lees army. That was bow one regiment
spent the Christmas day of 1862, and therU
was no peace Oh eaIIu auu Soou VIA "
men" sentiment in their hearts.
In this connection, may say that those
of middle age who did not enter the civil
war, and those of the younger generation
have but faint idea of the toll, privation,
and racking suffering incident to the life OF
the soldier To realize the truth, the e1
perieuce must have been undergone. Tho
reports of generals and the histories often
allude in general terms to the sutferiDgs Of
the seldiery, but in terms too cold and gen
eral to give conception of the realities.-
Thomas Murray in Wash. Republican.
MEDICAL.