The Spirit of Christmas Past..... Christmas Letters from Confederate Soldiers
The Spirit of Christmas Past..... Christmas Letters from Confederate Soldiers
A Southern Tragedy "Oh When will this war end? Will another Christmas roll around and find us all wintering in camp? Oh! That peace may soon be restored to our young but dearly beloved country and that we may all meet again in happiness ."
Letter From Unknown Confederate Soldier- 1864
(printed with permission from America's Memories)
Nashville Tenn Jany 5th 64Friend Ettie
I believe I am not indebted to you by way of letter, but for your kindness to me I will write you a few lines. On New Year's day about one o-clock I received a verry nice gift which I appreciated verry much. It was the only gift that I received, and on that account realize its worth. You have my heartfelt thanks for your kindness and remembrance of a Soldier.It is quite cool Weather here now and some snow upon the ground but not enough to make sleighing. I wish I wish I were in Hillsdale today I think I would call around to friend Ettie and go out a Sleighing. I get lonesome sometimes and I not know what to do, if I ever get out of the Service alive I am agoing to settle down and get married.
What a novel Idea that is, perhaps you will not believe it but I am not joking. I am not quite an old Bach yet but I fear I will be before long.
If you know of some good looking amiable young Lady that wish to change her situation in life, just mention the fact to her,
and tell her there is a Soldier in the Army that wishes to marry in less than two years after his time expires in the Army.Enclosed you will find the likeness of your unknown Correspondent which you will please accept, with the kindest regards.
I am yours
verry truly
The Campaign Diaries of Thomas J. Kay, CSA and Robert J. Campbell
edited by Wirt Armistead Cate, 1938
December 23rd [1863]
Since the cook had been sent out to purchase goods I did the cooking for the mess.
He returned at night with a few articles which cost at the following rates:
Onions $2 per dozen; butter $3 per pound; chickens $3 each; pork $1 per pound;
also some eggs at $3 per dozen to make some eggnog for Christmas. Today I wrote a lengthy letter to my wife, but the person I had intended to carry it had gone. This was a disappointment.December 24th
This morning battalion guard mounting began for the three batteries.
It is Christmas Eve. I am sitting in my little cabin and my thoughts
carry me away to Helena where I see my good wife before the hearth
with three children around her; the eldest a girl standing and looking
earnestly into her mother’s face; the second a boy five years old,sitting
in a small chair looking into the fire; and the youngest a girl about four,
leaning on her mother’s lap--all listening attentively to what their
intelligent mother is relating in regard to the visits of Santa Claus.
having visited them on former Christmas Eves with presents of toys,
their curiosity is at its height to know if he will come tonight and fill
their stockings. Ah, will not these little innocents be disappointed? Their
father has not seen them for twenty months, and is now far away battling
for home and liberty, and has no means by which he can convey them toys
or money to purchase them. Whether their mother has the means to spare in
procuring Christmas presents for them is unknown to me, but I pray heaven
to provide her with the necessaries of life, and to bless and cheer the young
and innocent hearts of my children during the Christmas holidays. Happy
Christmas to my wife and children!December 25th
Before breakfast the Doctor made some eggnog, a worthy luxury
that is seldom enjoyed in the army. Had sausages for breakfast, quite
a treat, the first within the last twelve months. Ralph Bailey and
Willie Smith called at my cabin about eleven o’clock, when Bailey
made the second eggnog. All went smoothly in the battery. Out in the
open air some of the men were hopping to the notes of an old fiddle,
trying to be merry.
Confederate Letter of John W. HaganA Confederate POW edited by Bell Irvin Wiley; 1954 To Mrs A. Hagan, Cat Creek, Lowndes County, Ga-I send you a Stamp
#15--Barracks 16 Prison 3 Camp Chase Ohio--
December 25th, 1864
My Dear Wife...
Again I write you a short letter which leaves myself, James D. Pounds, A. Mattox, M. F. Giddins & Wm.Anderson in good health & hope you & familley are enJoying the Same blessing I have nothing new to write you.
I am very anxious to hear of and [an] Exchange but have very little hopes of being Exchanged during the War. we are permitted to receve the papers now & have a chance of Knowing what is going on. The late arrangement entering [entered] into by the C.S. & U.S. will not lead to & Exchange. Brig Gen Beall on the part of the C.S. is now in N.Y. on Parole to carry out the arrangements on the part of the C.S. to furnish we prisoners of War with all the nessary supplies to make us comfertable. & we have Elected Col Josie of Ark & Col Healkine of Tenn & Capt Smith of Va to make a report of what we need to Gen Beall in N.Y. & Issue the Same when it arrives here. So you may not give your self any uneaseyness about us we are fairing very well now & will do better when our supplies is encreast. I havent heard from Anderson yet & do not expect to Soon. let me Know when you write if J.M. Griffin have been heard of at home. I am still corresponding with my friend in Nashville "Tenn & will not suffer for any thing. your Uncle John Roberts is in Prison at Rock Island Ills & Bryant his son is with me & in good health Give my love to all at home & Kiss Reubin for me. I will close hoping to hear from you soon as my last was dated Oct 8th.
I Remain your Affectsionate Husband
John Wm. HaganP.S. this is a dull Crismass day
From: Tally Simpson, Camp near Fredricksburg
To: Anna Simpson
Camp near Fred'burg
Dec. 25th
My dear sister, This is Christmas Day. The sun shines feebly through a thin cloud, the air is mild and pleasant, [and] a gentle breeze is making music through the leaves of the lofty pines that stand near our bivouac. All is quiet and still,
and that very stillness recalls some sad and painful thoughts. This day, one
year ago, how many thousand families, gay and joyous,celebrating Merry Christmas, drinking health to absent members of their family,and sending
upon the wings of love and affection long, deep, and sincere wishes for their
safe return to the loving ones at home, but today are clad in the deepest
mourning in memory to some lost and loved member of their circle.
of their circle. If all the dead (those killed since the war began) could be
heaped in one pile and all the wounded be gathered together in one group,
the pale faces of the dead and the graons of the wounded would send such
a thrill of horror through the hearts of the originators of this war that their
very souls would rack with such pain that they would prefer being dead and
in torment than to stand before God with such terrible crimes blackening their characters. Add to this the cries and wailings of the mourners - mothers and fathers weeping for their sons, sisters for their brothers, wives for their
husbands, and daughters for their fathers - [and] how deep would be the convictions of their consciences.Yet they do not seem to think of the affliction and distress they are scattering broadcast over the land.
When will this war end? Will another Christmas roll around and find us all wintering in camp? Oh! That peace may soon be restored to our young but dearly beloved country and that we may all meet again in happiness.But enough of these sad thoughts. We went on picket in town a few days ago. The pickets of both armies occupy the same positions now as they did before the battle. Our regt was quartered in the market place while the others occupied
stores and private houses. I have often read of sacked and pillaged towns in ancient history, but never, till I saw Fredricksburg, did I fully realize what one was. The houses, especially those on the river, are riddled with shell and ball.
The stores have been broken open and deprived of every thing that was worth a shilling. Account books and nots and letters and papers both private and public were taken from their proper places and scattered over the streets and trampled
under feet. Private property was ruined. Their soldiers would sleep in the mansions of the wealthy and use the articles and food in the house at their pleasure. Several houses were destroyed by fire. Such a wreck and ruin I never wish to see again.
Yet notwithstanding all this, the few citizens who are now in town seem to be cheerful and perfectly resigned. Such true patriots are seldom found. This will ever be a noted place in history.While we were there, Brig Genl Patrick, U.S.A., with several of his aides-de-camp, came over under flag of truce. Papers were exchanged, and several of our men bought pipes, gloves, &c from the privates who rowed the boat across. They had
plenty of liquor and laughed, drank, and conversed with our men as if they had been friends from boyhood.Pres Hix came for the remains of Nap his brother and Johnnie Garlington yesterday and will take them to Richmond today. They will be carried on home immediately. Tell Aunt Caroline Jim is getting on finely. Howdy to all the negros. I have received the bundle of clothes sent to Columbia. The bundle contained one shirt, one scarf, and two pairs of socks. At least I suppose it is the one you sent to
Col[umbia] to be sent to Barnwell at Richmond. I am a thousand times obliged.
When is Harry coming?There is nothing new going on. I am almost dead to hear from home. I have received no letters in nearly three weeks, and you can imagine how anxious I am. The mails are very irregular. I hope to get a letter soon. Dunlap Griffin is dead, died in Richmond of wounds received in the last battle. Capt Hance is doing very well.
Frank Fleming is in bad condition. (He has been elected lieutenant since he left.)
Write to me quick right off. I wish to hear from you badly. Remember me to my friends and relatives, especially the Pickens and Ligons. Hoping to hear from you soon I remain
Your bud
Tally
A Gunner in Chew's Battery, Stuart's Horse Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia
December 25, 1862This is Merry Christmas. This morning we resumed our march early and moved down the Valley nearly to Kernstown, where we encountered the Yankees and gave them a Christmas greeting in the shape of a few shell. We took the same
position we held at the battle of Kernstown last spring. About sixty sharpshooters advanced on our position and attempted to drive us away. We opened fire on them with two guns and fired three rounds, which thoroughly settled the sharpshooting business for this Christmas. Their line fell back in a rather stirred-up mixture, and that was the last I saw of the sharpshooters. We remained in battery till sunset, to see whether the Yanks intended to advance on us in force. Their infantry camp was not far away, for I heard their drummers beating the long roll immediately after we opened fire on their sharpshooters. After dark this evening our cavalry kindled camp-fires all around the place we held to-day, to make the Yanks believe that we were many, and still holding the position. We fell back to Middletown and camped.
Author of the following unknown to me
Christmas, December 25, 1863
Bright Merry Christmas is here again, and so am I, right in the breezy woods to enjoy it, unhampered by the restraints of custom, the fetters of fashion, and thraldom of etiquette, ready and willing to hide away a first-class Christmas dinner if I had it. I am glad I am alive and whole, for during this year many a poor soldier whose sun of life glowed in the very zenith of manhood and glory was cut down and immolated on the altar of his country, like the full blown rose that sacrifices and casts its beauteous and fragrant petals on the altar of the passing storm. At sunrise this morning we fired two rounds from our guns in commemoration of the birth of Him who said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace
I give unto you, not as the world giveth."The menu of our Christmas dinner was composed wholly of beef with gravy and corn bread. Our mess was afraid to try anything new, as it might throw us headlong on the sick list in the busy season of house building. I was hard at work all day, getting raw material for the business end of our culinary department.
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