Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25
General Rosser's ChriStmas Dinner
Postponed.

To the man who has witnessed the re-
turn of the sun TO his winter solstice six
IS times, there is much in the approaching
Christmas for serious thought and many
lessons are suggested to the aged as well
as the young, and while our children and
grandchildren are gathering the holly and
mistletoe; mothers. grandmothers. and
aunts arranging the Christmas-tree, and
the boys preparing the yule log and filling
the wood-box for the roaring fire and
rousing time" the thoughtful and expe-
snced man looks on with feelings Of ap-
prevail yet with sad pleasure.
We recall the morning of our life with
it's hope and its promise and as we look
into the bright faces Of hopeful healthy,
and joyful youth we feel the shock OF
rrophesy which points 10 the dark, cold,
dreary, and arctic winters Of disappOint-
ment. through which their Journey Of life
leads. and from whose arid wastes no
sound Of gladness win fan on their desc
late ears
often think of~ny first Christmas in
the army ] was a captain OF artillery.
We had been victorious in every battle
and skirrnish with the enemy. We were
IN comfortable cantonment OF log huts
near Centreville. Many Of our kinspeope
had come on 20 visit us and brought with
them well-hlled boxes. fixed up at home"
20 cheer and gladden. the poor, dear
bows hearts" as they camped on the cold,
cold ground. midst snow and ice. watch
ing the threatening foe. Little did these
dear ones at home realize that this was
the gayest and happiest Christmas of
these bOys' lives. We had comfortable
quarters. bright fires. good. warm cloth
ING. plenty 10 eat and TO drink,
and not the slightest apprehension of our
defeated enemy. nor q doubt Of our ulti-
mate triumph in the cause for which we
had enlisted.
We spent the entire week In this great
city. covering the halls along Bull Run.
in pleasure, feasts, and carousal We had
theatrical entertainments. tableaux, and
charades We had fancy balls, dancing
and games. and the want Of girls was sup
piled by bedecking the best-looking and
most giady boys IN calico and crinoline.
and the most approved belle, or the most
adept coquette who had even experienced
the deirium Of
"soft eyes looked love to eyes which
snake again
wou.a have envied the rush" given those
improyised damsels in their ill-htting
gowns.
Three years rolled by. burdened with
monstrous events-incessant marching and
fghtlng-during which time thousands OF
those who participated In the festivities
around Centreville during the Christmas
or 1861 had either fallen in battle, been
manned by wounds received in battle, or
We're languishing In northern prisons. The
clouds OF doubt Of success had dsrkened
into despair, and hung dismally over US.
/ was a major-general OF cavalry. My
division was in bivouac. under widowed
and leaky shelter tents in the snow. near
Buffalo Cap In Augusta county, Va.
Unable to procure forage our horses
broused on the laps Of tho trees which
we felled for nre-wood. and the men were
on scant rations Of corn-meal and fresh
pork. My own repast on Christmas-Day,
1864. was ash-cakc and fried rooster, and,
while eating IL a scout came In and re-
ported that there was regiment OF
the enemy stationed in Beverly across
the mountains. ana by capturing that
place rations and forage could be OBJ
tained. so our feast was concluded be-
resolve 10 adjourn 10 Beverly, where We
proposed that our caterer should prepare
a feast OF the best yiands In the enemys
larder. and l promised 10 put him In
possesson as soon as / could get the con-
sent Of "Oid JubaI' 10 take sly command
on so perllous journey over the snow
and tmbroken mountain roads, over which
no one had passed since General Lees
campaign against RDsecrans In 1881.
General Early dlsapprov0d of the expe-
dition but the old General was called TO
Richmond for a conference with General
*. r.. Lee, and. Fitz Lee being In com
mand OF the department I'm his absence.
granted permission.
The condition OF the horses was such
that only three hundred men could be
selected. and, after one OF the severest
marches I ever experinced. midst snow.
sleet. ice. and food. we reached the town