Christmas went off very pleasantly and apparently to the satisfaction
of all. Drills were suspended and all went in for a good time. The Irishmen had
their Christmas box, the Germans their song and lager, while ball playing and
other athletic sports used up the day, and music and dancing were the order of
the evening. Santa Claus came with a Christmas dinner for a few, but more of us
he passed by; however, I think the old gentleman has got a store for us
somewhere on the way.
Our camp was visited by a number of ladies and gentlemen
from the city, who were guests at headquarters, Chaplain James doing the polite,
and entertaining them as best he could. No farther south than this, I was
surprised to hear the chaplain tell of the ignorance of these people in regard
to northern people and their institutions. One lady, noticing a box of letters
in the chaplain's tent, said she thought he must have a very large
correspondence-to have so many letters. He told her those were soldiers'
letters going home to their friends. “Why,” she asked, “are there many of your
soldiers who can write?” He informed her that there were not a half dozen men
in the regiment but could read and write. He told her that free schools were an
institution at the north. No man was so poor but he could educate his children,
and the man who neglected their education was regarded as little better than the
brutes. The lady appeared quite astonished and said she thought our free
schools were only for the rich.
SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the
25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 15-16
