From the Potomac.
going into winter quarters — a soldier Drummed out of service — Impatience for an attack from the Yankees — an amusing incident.[correspondence of the Richmond Dilpatch.]
Camp Davis's Ford, Prince William Co., Dec. 17, 1861.
The third brigade, Gen. Rhodes, (recently Ewell's,) now occupy this position; and it seeming evident that our friends ‘"over the border"’ do not intend to pay us a visit this season, all have gone to work with a vigor in building their temporary homes to protect them from the frost and snows of winter.
Private Spradling, of the 13th Mississippi Regiment, court-martialed for stealing and an attempt at desertion, was yesterday publicly ‘"drummed out"’ of the regiment.
The regiment was drawn up in line at an open order, and the poor, deluded fellow was escorted through to the tune of the ‘"Rogue's March."’ Previous to this, one side of his head was shaved.
He was then marched across the bridge over the Occoquan at this point, and left to take his own course.
It was a righteous execution of a just sentence.
This is splendid weather for a fight.
What has become of that much-talked of advance from McClellan?
He told his soldiers some time ago that they ‘"had suffered their last defeat;"’ but I am afraid that politic General is afraid to test the pluck of his bloated host.
The affair at Leesburg seems to have satisfied him of the temper of Southern bayonets.
They can't stand the cold steel.
Depend upon it, when they do come they will find us ready.
Occasionally, an amusing incident occurs to enliven the monotony of camp life.
One occurred, a short time since, at Sangster's Cross Roads, while the 12th Mississippi was on picket which I will endeavor to narrate.--Lieut. O'B--, who, by the way, is strictly temperate and a good disciplinarian, perceiving one night that there was an unusual amount of noise and bluster in his company quarters, walked quietly out of his temporary hut, to ascertain the cause.
He had not proceeded far before he became aware that the secret lay in the contents of a goodly sized jug, which he observed was consulted very frequently.
Taking possession of the jug, he informed some who seemed to have a friendly feeling towards it, that they could have the rest in the morning, and deposited it at his head, when he laid down in the hut. My friend Mc — was not to be cheated out of a good spree in this way.--Quietly reconnoitering, he ascertained where the jug was placed, and about the time he thought the Lieutenant had fallen asleep, he crept noiselessly to the spot, with the intention of abstracting the jug. But what was his horror, when, instead of catching hold of the handle of the jug, he caught the Lieutenant by the hair.
The latter, jumping up and catching Mc — by the collar, demanded the meaning of such stealthy proceedings.--When Mc--, with supreme astonishment depicted on his countenance, cried out:--‘"Be jabbers!
that's the first jug ever I got hold of with hair on it!"’ Lieut. O'B--, who is as gallant as he is clever — immediately concluded what was ‘"in the wind,"’ and was so much amused at the remark, that he let Mc — off with a gentle reprimand.
Warren. 