From the Valley of Virginia.
reinforcements — the health of the soldiers--Col. Githam--the Christmas holidays, &c.
[special Correspondence of the Dispatch]
Camp Mason, near Winchester, Dec, 26th, 1861.
Our force at present stationed here were increased to-day by the arrival of others; but to what number it would not be politic to state.
Col. Gilham's regiment is among the number, and his men look well and hearty, and bore their long and fatiguing march from Valley Mountain very well indeed.
On one day of their march they made twenty-three miles in six hours and a half! which is pretty hard to beat.
Company F, from your city, is connected with this regiment, and it will be agreeable news to their many friends to inform them that the whole command is in excellent health, and well pleased with their transfer from the wilds of the Northwest to this beautiful valley.--Col. Githam, I understand, will give up his command shortly, to resume his place at the Military Institute; in which event, Lt. Col. John M. Pattoo, jr., will succeed him, who is a gallant and popular young officer, and a former commander of the old Blues of your city. Yesterday, being Christmas, the usual drills were dispensed with, and the troops given a holiday, which they enjoyed in various ways. A large number visited the churches in Winchester, where religious services were held. Egg nogg was in demand, but the article was exceedingly scarce, for the want of the principal ingredient — good liquor, which cannot be had for love or money.
There is no news of any moment to communicate, save that we are expecting to move in a day or two to parts unknown.
The weather is cold and cloudy, and the troops suffer very much, and there are a number of cases of pneumonia among them, some of which have proved fatal. Ned.
