A Civil War Christmas

＂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.＂

Introduction

Is Jingle Bells a Confederate Carol?

The Story Behind I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Within the Lines

The Wartime Journal of a Young Georgia Girl

Christmas in the Confederate White House

Letters From Home

Epilogue

We of the South honestly believed that we were fighting for States Rights, while the North is equally honest in the conviction that it was fighting to free the slaves.

The real tragedy of this war is that two peoples who both believed in the same God and the sending of ＂The Prince of Peace＂ slaughtered each other by the hundreds of thousands while calling on that same God for vindicaton of their deeds.

Now that we have seen how much more can be accomplished by peaceful cooperation, and a greater respect and understanding of human rights we wonder how it could have ever come to pass.

And she brought forth her firstborn son and laid him in a cattle feed-trough because there was no room in the big house.

And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

And of the increase of Peace and of his Kingdom, there shall be no end.

Deo Vindice!

John Rigdon has authored a number of books on he American Ciivl War focusing on first hand accounts and regimental histories. This is his second title dealing with Christmas and the Civil War. His first, ＂The Christmas Artistry of Thomas Nast＂ was published in 2009. Visit www.researchonline.net for a complete listing of available titles.