The following is from the American Battlefield Trust
Website: https://www.battlefields.org/
As Christmas dawns, our thoughts turn to how the soldiers of America's first century weathered each winter in the field during times of war.
Winter was bleak during our country's earliest conflicts. Hundreds of thousands of troops toiled in the cold or huddled in canvas-roofed huts while many died of disease in camp. Leaders generally tried to avoid operations due to the trying conditions. But for the soldiers engaged in battle, there was little rest over the holiday.
Soldiers preparing for the bloody Battle of Stones River in late December 1862, or shivering in the trenches outside of Petersburg in 1864, found little respite on Christmas or New Year's Day. In 1776, Continental soldiers braved bitter conditions and moved across the icy Delaware River under the command of George Washington to launch a surprise attack against Hessian soldiers and disrupt their traditional German Christmas celebrations.
Soldiers who were not on active campaign struggled against the weather and the boredom of life in winter quarters. They sought to bring some semblance of home and comfort to the holiday season. They relished letters from their loved ones, shared special meals, felt loneliness and longing, and even engaged in epic snowball fights. There are records of Civil War soldiers bringing traditional holiday customs like caroling, gift exchanges, and decorating, to camp.
One soldier from the 17th Maine recorded that he and his fellow troops eagerly awaited the "sundry boxes and mysterious parcels" directed to them "with feelings akin to those of children expecting Santa Claus." Another soldier, Alfred Bellard of the 5th New Jersey Infantry, recalled a small tree, "decked off with hard tack and pork, in lieu of cakes and oranges," that added festivity to life in a winter camp.
Soldiers often let their folks at home know what kind of food they craved. One Confederate soldier from North Carolina wrote his mother, "I wish you would send me a big cake and some dried apple pies or 'slapjacks,' I believe they call them, some molasses, dried fruit, lard, vegetables &c any thing you choose. Please send me a bottle of brandy and some sugar and I will make an eggnog from Christmas if I can manage to get some eggs. Please send me a pound or two of butter for we very seldom get any up in these diggings."
Yet, despite troops' best efforts to partake in holiday celebrations on the front, the season also served as a reminder that soldiers were separated from their loved ones and the comforts of home.
As we count our blessings, let us also deepen our appreciation for our soldiers' devotion and how they shaped - and continue to shape - the country we call home, often far away from their families. Thank you for doing your part to help ensure that their memory is never forgotten.
Searching for a last-minute gift?
This holiday, make a gift to preserve historic land in someone else's name. When you make a donation, you have the opportunity to send an ecard notifying them of your gift on their behalf. It's a wonderful way to spread cheer.
Christmas Bells
Did you know that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1863 poem "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" had its origins in the American Civil War? Longfellow wrote the piece on Christmas Day in 1863. Nine months earlier his son, Charles Appleton Longfellow, snuck away from home and enlisted in the Federal army in Washington, D.C.
Christmas in the Confederate White House
Varina Davis, wife of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, wrote this article describing how the Davis family spent the Christmas of 1864 in the Confederate White House. It was published in The New York World, December 13, 1896 and has since been reprinted often. This excerpt was obtained via the website "The American Civil War, 1861-1865."
Christmas in Wartime
Learn more about how Americans experienced the Christmas holiday during the wars that defined the United States. Our collection includes a look at warfare in wintertime and the battles that were shaped by the season.
"Christmas Night of 62"
Confederate soldier William Gordon McCabe sat down on Christmas night 1862 to write his thoughts and remember his family far away. One hundred and fifty five years later, his words are still poignant.
Clara Barton
Clara Barton was born on December 25, 1821, and spent several Christmases in Washington. Although she had twice the reason to celebrate the day, she did not find it very exciting during adulthood, particularly during the trying years during the Civil War. Learn more about the life and legacy of the "Angel of the Battlefield."
Washington’s Crossing
On Christmas night 1776, General George Washington moved his troops across the icy Delaware River to launch a surprise attack against Hessian soldiers encamped in the British garrison at Trenton, New Jersey. Washington's plan was a bold one, but the commander knew that such an endeavor was necessary to prevent the revolution from crumbling. On Dec. 26, Washington and his men achieved a stunning victory, capturing 900 Hessian prisoners and setting the stage for the 10 Crucial Days to come.
Christmas on the Rappahannock
This story was published in Harper's Weekly in 1886 by the Rev. John Paxton, a veteran from the 140th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Paxton's account takes place on Christmas Day, just weeks after the Battle of Fredericksburg, while performing often miserable picket duty.
Year-End Giving
This year’s CARES Act allows cash charitable deductions up to 100% of adjusted gross income (up from 60%) if itemizing and up to $300 if taking the standard deduction. Consult your tax advisor for details. Please make your year-end gift to preserve our threatened hallowed ground. Your tax-deductible gift will help us to preserve irreplaceable hallowed ground — forever.