Christmas, 1861

[JPK Huson 1863]

" Christmas Boxes in Camp--Christmas, 1861 " , Winslow Homer created this in 1861. It did not run on the cover of Harper's Bazaar until January, 1862 still, thought I'd look around to see what ( on Earth ) was transpiring while Winslow Homer's chosen Mass. infantry pillages their own box of cookies, canned goods, socks, magazines, vaguely labeled bottles and mittens.

It had been active. The Trent Affair had been tense, very tense only barely laid to rest breathtakingly before Queen Victoria donned her first set of widow's weeds, Prince Albert's crucial role in peace-making occurring almost as he was known to be on the verge of death.

A short war was lengthening, attitudes hardening as tolls rose, prisoners died, new uniforms faded or became bloodstained- or buried.

Ships were launched, materials gathered, marraiges, christenings, funerals attended. It was Christmas and not like any Christmas anyone could ever remember or had envisioned. It was 1861.

Using this as an ' 1861 ' illustration although published in 1862. As can be seen from Winslow's caption " Christmas Boxes In Camp- Christmas 1861 " is his personal photograph, linked to that day.


Alexandria, Virginia 1861 newspapers

From Michigan, December 1861

And South Carolina, December 1861

Then there's this: Like an Christmas idjit, forgot to save which paper!

 

[18thVirginia]

Interesting thoughts, JPK.

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

Thanks for sharing that JPK. I'm sure they all thought the war would've been over by Christmas. Little did they know how many more Christmas holidays they would spend away from family and loved ones.

 

[James N.]

Using this as an ' 1861 ' illustration although published in 1862. As can be seen from Winslow's caption " Christmas Boxes In Camp- Christmas 1861 " is his personal photograph, linked to that day...

Like with most magazines today, Harper's was dated in advance of publication.

 

[Patrick H]

I haven't read all the clippings in this thread, but I wanted to comment on the Harper's Weekly cover. I imagine socks were a VERY much appreciated gift then. I like the way the illustration is rendered. Thanks for launching your thread with that cover. I will read the rest. I promise!

 

[MRB1863]

Fascinating, JPK! Just have to love the Christmas traditions that did (and do) not revolve around retail!!!!! 'Tis the season...Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays (if you prefer) to all!!!!

 

[Waterloo50]

The mention of Enke's Comet was interesting. Here is a recent photo of the same Comet.

 

[Pvt.Shattuck]

Ironic that Harper's advertises itself as "The Journal of Civilization" as it chronicles the savage and brutal bloodbath that was the American Civil War.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

The mention of Enke's Comet was interesting. Here is a recent photo of the same Comet.

So cool, thank you!! Kind of gives me chills, you know? I mean Time just goes on. The people who read this, who watched the comet's progress across a holiday's night sky above war ravaged America are gone. I guess some knew their passage, like the comet, to end as inevitably and soon as tail over that long- past horizon.- Some like most here gave it little thought. It's advent a little too symbolic for words, gee whiz- 2023, the next time it passes at Christmastime. Every 3.3 years this comet swings around our way. Someone with a swifter ability than mine will have to ascertain how many appearances Enke's has made at this time of year since 1861.

 

[Waterloo50]

So cool, thank you!! Kind of gives me chills, you know? I mean Time just goes on. The people who read this, who watched the comet's progress across a holiday's night sky above war ravaged America are gone. I guess some knew their passage, like the comet, to end as inevitably and soon as tail over that long- past horizon.- Some like most here gave it little thought. It's advent a little too symbolic for words, gee whiz- 2023, the next time it passes at Christmastime. Every 3.3 years this comet swings around our way. Someone with a swifter ability than mine will have to ascertain how many appearances Enke's has made at this time of year since 1861.

I remember reading an article about witness trees at Gettysburg, people feel a connection to the things that their ancestors looked upon, I think that this comet is the same as those trees in that their ancestors would have seen it. I'm glad that you understood why I posted the picture.

 

[TSCLowe]

 

[Karen Lips]

My favorite Christmas story from the Civil War is the one about Yankee soldiers delivering food and toys they had made to the Southerners . I forget where this happened and the exact year. I think it was somewhere in Virginia.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I remember reading an article about witness trees at Gettysburg, people feel a connection to the things that their ancestors looked upon, I think that this comet is the same as those trees in that their ancestors would have seen it. I'm glad that you understood why I posted the picture.

Yes, I truly did- wish I were articulate enough to put my finger on it, drives me a little crazy to see a concept like this without being able to verbalize it, gee whiz. It's exactly the same concept as the witness tress albeit more esoteric, surely more comprehensive in scope? I don't know. Of course theorists slightly ruined the 2,000 year old story of the Nativity by suggesting the star of Bethlehem was really one of the great comets. *sigh* Not introducing religion- just popular, as in ' people', legend because who saw what was there? Scuse the ramble, just a very cool subject, these connections with the past we all have- our witness tree, Ecke's Comet, Christmas- may not wish to hear about that. It gets long. We don't have a ' bored, I just died from it ', emoticon.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

My favorite Christmas story from the Civil War is the one about Yankee soldiers delivering food and toys they had made to the Southerners . I forget where this happened and the exact year. I think it was somewhere in Virgina

Glad I logged in this morning, Karen! Sitting on my hands trying not to wake everyone up Christmas morning- the dogs ( three ) cause a riot if I'm moving around, too. This story, well, well worth tracking down. Never bumped into it before- love to find more! Wouldn't matter which army did the giving just a very cool story, thanks for the lead!

 

[Karen Lips]

Glad I logged in this morning, Karen! Sitting on my hands trying not to wake everyone up Christmas morning- the dogs ( three ) cause a riot if I'm moving around, too. This story, well, well worth tracking down. Never bumped into it before- love to find more! Wouldn't matter which army did the giving just a very cool story, thanks for the lead!

The soldiers had even tied limbs to the mules' heads to make them look like reindeer. They really outdid themselves!