Battlefield Dispatches: Remembering Christmas past

Today is "Christmas Eve" and thousands of our men & women in the military service and their families from whom many are separated because we as a nation are at war, think of home & hearth & "Christmas Past". This has been true of every conflict we have been in, including our Civil War. It did not matter whether the soldiers wore Blue or Gray, when they were away from home their thoughts were with family, home & hearth. The following are a few examples of their thoughts on Christmas Eve & Day in 1862.

On December 24, 1861, Captain Robert Goldthwatie Carter of the 22nd Mass. Vol. Infantry wrote: "Christmas Eve & I am on duty as officer of the day, but I am not on duty tomorrow. As much as I desire to see you all, I would not leave my company alone. I give my company [Approx. 100 soldiers] a Christmas dinner tomorrow, consisting of TURKEY, OSTERS, PIES, APPLES, ETC.; NO LIQUORS!"

From the diary of Private Robert A. Moore, a CONFEDERATE soldier: "Tuesday, Dec. 24, 1861. Camp near Swan's Creek. This is CHRISTMAS EVE, but seems but little like it to me. Wednesday Dec. 25th, 1861 Camp near Swan's Creek. This is Christmas & very dull Christmas it has been to me. Had an eggnog tonight, but did not enjoy it much as we had no ladies to share it with us."

2nd Lieut. Robert Gould Shaw, 2nd Mass. Infantry, near Frederick, Maryland, December 25, 1861: "It is Christmas morning & I hope a happy & merry one for you all, though it looks so stormy for our poor country, one can hardly be in merry humor."

Gilbert J. Barton, Company I recorded some of the hardships of camp on Christmas Day: "Dec. 25th Christmas. Had hard tack soaked in cold water & then fried in pork grease. Fried in a canteen (Split the canteen by putting it into the fire & melting the sodder off.) We pick them [canteens] up on the field that were left or lost by other soldiers., also had coffee & pork. Ordered up at 5 this morning with guns ready as it is reported that there are 400 Rebel Cavalry not far off prowling around. Foggy morning."

Major / Surgeon John H. Brinton, U. S. Vol. Wrote: "during the days preceding Christmas, I received some boxes from home, full of nice comfortable thins & the letter, which came tome at that time, you maybe sure, made me feel HOMESICK! On Christmas night, I left for St. Louis as my teeth were troubling me & [I was] greatly in need of the services of a dentist. I was fortunate in finding a good one & in a day or two the necessary repairs were made." [Note: it must have been a painful Christmas for the Major."

Corporal J. C. Williams, Co. B, 14th Vermont Infantry, December 25, 1862: "This is Christmas & my mind wanders back to that home made lonesome by my absence, while far away from the peace & quietude of civil life to undergo the hardships of the camp & may be the battlefield. I think of the many lives that are endangered & hope that the time will soon come when peace, with its innumerable blessings, shall once more restore our country to happiness & prosperity.'

Capt. Charles w. Porter, Co. A, 3rd Wisconsin Cav., near Cane Hill, Arkansas. "As today is Christmas, our thoughts was naturally turned homeward to our mothers good CHRISTMAS DINNERS of ROAST TURKEY & other nice eatables too numerous to mention here. But we tried to substitute a dinner in my mess by getting up a chicken potpie & warm biscuits & butter and for supper apple dumplings which was sent up to use by our cook William A. Hawes. I think we praised the cook & done our repasts justice. Some of the boys was card playing & other amusements. I spent apportion of the day writing in my journal. Today rainy."

So it was for some Civil War soldiers & so it will be for our service personnel of today. Please remember those who are now serving and those have served during Christmas's Past who are no longer with us, because the War Went On as our War of Today goes on!