From Stockton's Regiment

II LLii'e Hir.T,, Va., ) Dec. 26th, 1861. Dear T'noTirr.R : - Christinas has coma and gono, and was somewhat oolebrntad bv the sokliers of ihia brigada and división. Many of the Qcïmans of Company A lluminated tbeir tents oti Uhristmas evc, and they made a ' very fine appearance. Ou Christmas morning, each tent of this regiment was, through the politcncss of Mr. Wells, the Sutler, Bnpplied with eider as a Chïistmas gift. With the exception of Company A, which was detailcd for guard, aDd w.is on du!y until this r.iorHing, the whole regiment made themsolves merry the best way they could. - Some of tlioin took dinner at privato houses, somc visitcd their friends iu othcr regiments, and all went on the motto of " Lot the wide world wag ns it will, I will be gay nnd liappy still ;" and a very good motto it is for a dier. In tho course of tho day the autliority of the camp was giren over to the privates. Privatcs became officers, officers bocama privates, and a fuw oí them got into the guard houso. At the {fanal time dress parade was had, wlicn the officers appeared in the ranks carrying muskets. - And tlms it was that the regiment passed Christmas. At the New York 4-lth regiment, the authority was also given up to the privates, who arrested thoir Colonel and sent him to the guard house. - At their dress parade the uien appeared in cvery variety of dress, uo two being allowed to dress alike. It was a kind of Masquerade, or fancy parade, and waa a gay scène. As for myself, I was engaged in a different way, during the afternoon of that day. Oo Christmas eve I receivcd, through the hands of Lieut. Baldwin', of Company D, Michigan 4th, a note from Capt. Handolph, of tbe same regiment and company, inviting me to partake of a Christinns dinner witli hiin. Through the politeness of Capt. Bahhy aud Lieut. Prentiss, at 12 o'clock I was excused frein duty until Diglit, with pennission to visit the 4th. All along the route I met soldiers dressed in their best attire, bcund for other regiments to sec their friends, while on the parade grounds, opposite the regiments I passed, the soldiers who preferred to stay at home were gathered together phiying at difïerent games. At tlio New York 44th they were playing at foot ball. Along the route, too, tho camps had been dressed in gay suits. - Evergreens had been entwinod in every shape over the entrances of their strects, which bore various mottoes, the names of their General, their Colonel, their camp ; and in various cases the arch was mount ed by the portrait of General McClellan. On arriving at the Michigan 4th, I found that camp had put on the gayest dress of all. The arches over the streets were decked with flags, and with portraits of Gen. McClellan. ' The great rooster, whieh stood on bis high perch above, seemed to look down upon the camp j with pride. But, the gayest of all were the quarters of Company D, Capt. Randolvii, generally known in Ann Arbor as tho " Barry Guards." Tho arch was beautifully done, and gaily decorated with globes, stars, &e., woven out of evergreens, aud boro tho namo of Barrt, the letters of which were neatly and tastefully mado out of the samo material as the globes, and shows that he is not forgotten by the boys of the company, " absent, but not forgotten.'' This : arch seemed to be the center ►attraetion, as a crowd was gathered in front of aud admiring it. On entering the street I found it as nieo and clean as a parlor ; and the tents boro same appearance. The boys were all enjoying theuiselves in various waya, and seemed to have no thought of home. All looked hcalthy and hoar. ty. Capt. IIa.ndolpii and bis Licutenanis, Hall and Baldwin, had given them a Cliristmas dinner, which perhaps was not quite as richly got up as that their friends at homo were catiug, but I presume they enjoyed it just as well, if not bettcr. Capt. Handou'H has a fine company, and is proud of it ; and the company thiuk everythicg of their Captain. I took diuuer with tho Captain, and supper with Jo. Eiciiardson, with whom I had a long visit ; and by the way Jo. is a tip-top boy, and to the Captain and hun I tender my thanks for the few pleasaiit hours I spent at tho 4th. Late in the day I bid them goodby and started homewards. At the entrance of K street I bid good-by to Capt. DePüï, who was just starting for home, and I presume he has rcached your place before this. I reached camp at G o'clock, and proceeded to my post, from which I was re lieved at 9 o'elock. On my way to my tent I called into Orderly Cook's tent, who iuvited me to stay and take a Christmas supper. Of courso I did not refuse, as that is against my principios, if therc is uiythhig good to eat ; besides I was somewhat desirous of seeing what thc Orderly could produce for supper bettcr than cominon folks. Great was my surprise whcii he produced two well baked chickens, aud at it we went. After tho chickous had uearly disappeared, Willt ■Velcii, Company A's drummer boy, brought on sweet cako and eandieSf which his folks had sent him from Detroit, for a Christmas present. By thc way, tilia same " little Wklcii" is thc wit aud lii'o of tho compauy, besidea being the best drummer of tho regiment; I do uot know liow wö could get aloog without him. Thc cvening passed agrccably away, and at a late bour, much obligcd to the gcntlomanly Orderly and "Welch, the drummer boy," for their entertainment, I retired to my tont happy and conlented, and wondering whether my friends at homo had enjoyed themsclves and livcd as well as I. Thus passed my Clnistuias in camp, and a Merry Christmas it was. l have no newa to write you. Thero j in a rumor that wc ure to move from herp about tlic lth of Jaumry, lSGi'.- , Oor (lcít!inífn is nnt kr.own. Scutli Carolina or Kontucky nre t!io places' talkcd trf J. P. i Sunday, Deo. 29th, 1881. Tjst oight t Lis regiment roei ved a supply of blnokota, a present iïom our Michigan friends. The snpply was tSther smal!, only pormittiog thrco t;j begiv eu to a tent; and as tliere are twelve men in a tent, in onr company, you wiJl rog that snnio of them are utill left without an.extr:i ene. Corporal GlUAKD and myself canic in possession of onc betweeu us, which makea as quite comfortnbic. " Sniall fuvors thaiikfully recoived," ind wo were ïuuch obliged 1 1 our Michigan frionde for the supply. I begin to bclicvo that we Rhall more frora Lcre soon, but where I cannot say. We Lave just reccived a new lot of guns, whicli will be given out this wcc!i ; this Ipoka sonietliing like moving. ïlio wcathor here ia beautifnl, tliougU occasionally we have vory cold wind. I nevor enjoyed better health in my life. J, p.