Christmas in the American Civil War
process christmas becoming national holiday u began representative burton chauncey cook illinois introduced bill u congress u civil war – passed house congress president ulysses grant signed june civil war christmas celebrated confederate state america south however people nonreligious celebration frowned upon actually fined massachusetts also seen unnecessary expense thought day prayer fasting puritan lutheran day become official holiday five year war ended war continued rage christmas skirmish occurred throughout countryside celebration troop civilian saw significant alteration propagandist thomas nast used wartime christmas reflect belief war first christmas day war lincoln hosted christmas party evening earlier day spent many hour explaining capture confederate representative great britain france john slidell james murray mason trent affair lincoln visited injured soldier various hospital many union soldier received gift tad lincoln tad deeply moved plight union soldier taken father see gift mostly book clothing famous christmas gift lincoln ever received came december william tecumseh sherman announced capture savannah georgia military exercise also took place december blockade runner caught union navy two skirmish virginia maryland several skirmish confederate general john hunt morgan engaged famous christmas raid kentucky day morgan men destroyed everything could improvement louisville nashville railroad made along mile track bacon creek lebanon junction also military execution desertion soldier forced witness union force destroyed confederate salt work bear inlet north carolina south carolina skirmish union navy confederate artillery stono river near charleston confederate fiercely repelled federal assault sixty warship fort fisher several skirmish fought western theater war soldier actively campaigning celebrated christmas several way union soldier would use salt pork hardtack decorate christmas tree others treated special meal captain massachusetts treated soldier food turkey oyster pie apple however many soldier received special treat privilege one incident december union soldier michigan led captain dispensed food supply poor georgian mule pulling cart decorated resemble reindeer tree branch tied head unit celebrating christmas allowed december soldier one unit punished celebratory gunfire holiday actually gunfire funeral salute carol hymn seasonal song sung period deck hall oh come ye faithful mendelssohn hark herald angel sing still sung today american musical contribution season include came upon midnight clear jingle bell three king orient housetop although popular europe time christmas card scarce united state would enjoy widespread use henry wadsworth longfellow wrote pacifist poem christmas bell christmas day news son lieutenant charles appleton longfellow suffered severe wound november mine run campaign poem set tune waltham john baptiste calkin sometime since received established library christmas carol heard bell christmas day carol version include two stanza original poem focused war child christmas altered war present fewer especially devastated south marching christmas day author kevin rawlings note southern child worried union blockade one little girl sallie brock putnam plotted course santa claus would take avoid sometimes father side allowed furlough child said react father seeing near stranger excuse lack santa included yankee shot thomas nast used editorial cartoon issue union propaganda made several illustration reflecting war one christmas eve ran january issue harper weekly show wife one side praying though window one circle another circle show husband battlefield also prayer issue cover started santa claus would perceived future american whitebearded santa hand gift sock union soldier also holding jefferson davis dancing puppet rope tied around neck imply execution christmas issue showed couple back together nast christmas cartoon conciliatory piece showing lincoln inviting confederate soldier warm lodge hall full merriment lincoln called nast use santa claus best recruiting sergeant north ever nast one use christmas propaganda tool union side new york herald also engaged propaganda one illustration published paper included santa claus fuming could reach southern child due northern blockade confederate side richmond examiner described santa young reader dutch toy monger new yorknew england scrub hottentot nothing traditional virginian celebration christmas even war nast drawing christmas issue harper weekly depicting head several confederate general ulysses grant foot image centered santa war nast purposely made north pole home saint nick one else could use nationalistic propaganda like nast heard bell christmas day collins ace story behind great tradition christmas zondervan isbn herr kincaid louisville nashville railroad – university press kentucky isbn long eb civil war day day almanac – doubleday isbn marten james childrens civil war university north carolina press isbn rawlings kevin marching christmas day toomey pr isbn studwell william emmett christmas carol reader haworth press isbn