A Civil War "Merry Christmas" Soldier's Letter from City Point Hospital, Virginia 1864

How do you bring a "Merry Christmas" to wounded soldiers convalescing in a hospital far from home?
Here is a letter from an unknown Union soldier sharing with his family his love for them back at home and also sharing how the U. S. Christian Commission delegates were doing all they could to encourage him and his comrades in City Point Hospital, Virginia during the winter of 1864.

[I've kept much of his creative spelling, but added some punctuation]

Dec. the 24th, 1864

Dear brother and sister I sit dow[n] to write a little again to you hoping [to] find you well.  I feel better this morning tho weak yet able to walk about to the Commission and meeting, there is a good meny soldiers converted here, the delegates of the christian Commission visit the hospittal and give a shirts, drawers, stockings, mittens, paper in [en]velopes and books in bundance, they are b[u]ilding a large house for a meeting house they intend to hold meeting in it Christmas wich is to marrow I shall try to go.  Well I must stop for it is most noon and here we have to go now to the eating room wich is about 2.00 [2 hundred] feet long with three tables, they say 7.00 hundred can eat to once, we have to stand up and take what it lad on our plates.

Sunday morning the 25th  well I did not get time to write till now so I wish you all a merry Christmas, this is a plesent frosty morning but no snow, I fell no the gane [gain?] yet rather week, I was to meeting last night and heard brother Marsh preach a good surmon today, I shall try to go to the new church at 10 oclock so I must write quick.

Edmund I think if my eyes was good I could lern to write yet but sum times they get so dim I have to do it almost by ges [guess] but I am thankful that I can do as well as I do.  I think I emprove sum well.  Edmund we have incourigeing nuse [encouraging news] yesterday from Shermon and Tommus [Thomas], if it is true and the nuse [news] came here last night and was cheared that the rebs had sent three congress men to Washington to make peice [peace], but the most of us dont believe it, it is also sid [said] that Jef Davis is dead.  Write and tell me sum of the tru nuse [news] you get. well  it is most meetin time, Edmund if this reached you before your box is sent I thought if you could send a pice of chees [piece of cheese] it is vry tasty to me.  I have bought sum at 50 cents a pound.  I have recived no pay for my service yet, but I hav a little mony yet, but you now [know] I do not buy all I see, sum have spent over a 1.00 [hundred] dollers once we came and now wen they have no money they find falt with there living. well direct [to the] U S Christian Commission, City Point Va.  I will send a book or two more for Christmas tho it is late the reading is just as good.  So good by for the present.  I forgot to say direct in care of J Marsh.

    Here is testimony from an anonymous soldier of how the US Christian Commission delegates were helping him to experience a Merry Christmas far away from home.  They gave practical gifts like clothing and books, they gave spiritual encouragement through the meetings and church services offered, and they offered the practical encouragement of helping these soldiers stay connected with family back home through the stationery and envelopes like this one the soldier used to write home on.  Because of the delegates' sacrificial giving of themselves and their resources, soldiers like this one saw the love of Christ in tangible ways that pleasantly frosty Christmas in 1864.  The Christian Commission did not predicate help on confirming if the soldier was a "Christian in good standing" before any assistance would be given.  No, they gave to all in need whatever gifts they had to share as they pointed those who would listen to the Savior Who is the "Reason for the Season".

Do not overlook the Letter Head details:

 United States Christian Commission.

Individual Relief Department.

The United States Christian Commission seeks to afford a sure and effective medium of communications between the wounded or sick soldier -- whether in the Camp or in Field or General Hospitals -- and his home friends.  This is done by furnishing facilities for writing and by writing for those who are not themselves able.  Soldiers, for who special inquiries are made of us, will be sought out, if possible, and relieved, and their condition made known to those asking.  All letters of this character should give the Corps, Division, Regiment, Company and Rank of the soldier, as also the Hospital in which he is supposed to be.  Also the name and post office address, in full, of the person desiring information.  Address, United States Christian Commission, 500 H Street, Washington, D.C.

    I initially bought the above letter years ago so I could make up a reproduction of the USCC letter head.  The seller warned me that it wasn't a highly valuable letter since the soldier couldn't be traced out and it didn't have much battle content [but he still expected a good price on it].  I smiled and bought it anyway after a quick read, and have not regretted the money invested.  Its a revealing description of the delegates activities to help the recovering soldiers, along with additional insights into some of the tensions and hopes the wounded men faced that Christmas.  While the Christian Commission could not meet every need of the recovering soldiers as evidenced by this soldier's hope that a personal care package might come from his family, the delegate's involvement clearly said "you are not forgotten" by people back home.
    Additionally beyond this one soldier's testimony of how he was personally helped, the Letter Head demonstrates the USCC delegates also tried to do what they could to help the families far from the battlefield.  In a situation when communications was sporadic and slow, the USCC tried to help bring whatever comfort of knowledge could be found to families living in uncertainty about their beloved soldier's fate.  To me, this gives great insight into how seriously the delegates took their mission of being God's hands, feet & voice in that sad time for our nation.
    Vicki & I and our kids have considered it a privilege for the past 20+yrs to help reenactors and spectators alike better understand the gracious love those Civil War USCC delegates showered on men in need like this unknown soldier at City Point Hospital in that winter of 1864.
     It is our wish that you, dear reader, might have a Merry Christmas!  May you look beyond the "shirts, drawers, stockings, mittens, paper in [en]velopes and books in bundance" that our present day culture seems preoccupied with gathering and see Jesus Who is the reason for the season.  To all of our fellow reenactors remember, if you see us in the encampment, you are always welcome at our USCC tent: "God's love is free and so it this food, come on in soldier."

    Your comments and insights on this letter and my post are most welcome.

"Airmail" in the Civil War -- Creative communications between North & South

    When the Civil War disrupted communications between North and South, people got creative.  The Washington "Republican" gives the following account of people in lower Maryland communicating with friends in Virginia across the Potomac:

Civil War Maryland Patriotic Cover
US36

    "A large kite is made, covered with oiled silk to render it impervious to sea water.  Folded letters and newspapers are tied in loops along the tail.  When the tail is as heavy as can conveniently be carried aloft, a cord long enough to reach two-thirds of the way across the river is attached, and the kite is flown.  After the kite had exhausted the string, the cord is cut and the kite is allowed to be borne by the wind the remainder of the distance, and descends on the Virginia shore, where people are waiting for the load.  With the first favorable wind, back comes the kite to Maryland."  (quoted in Civil War Times Illustrated, May 1964 p.37)

    Wouldn't this type of kite mail delivery would make an interesting living history reenactment!?!

Civil War Virginia Patriotic Cover
CS16

    The above quote from the Civil War Times is from my printed edition of the Civil War Stationery Journal 2004 1:1 that I used to mail out.  Sorry I don't know where the original CWT magazine so that I could give more details like the date on the original article for your information in this post.  What I do remember is that when I read about the kite mail delivery system, I marveled at the creative determination of people back then to keep in touch with each other.  We should include this attitude of determination to keep in touch with loved ones in our living history presentations about the 1860s people we are portraying to spectators.
    When I'm talking to spectators, especially kids, I emphasize how much the soldiers valued getting letters from home, and how much they enjoyed sharing what was happening to them as they were so far away from home.  I often say something like  "just think, there was no phones or emails or Facebook back then;  it took weeks, even months to hear news from home."  I enjoy watching that concept of 'having to wait to talk to someone far away' percolate down into their understanding.  I often followup by asking how they would feel is they had to leave home and not being able to talk to their parents for a long time.  (Now with teenagers this line of questioning produces a smile of 'wouldn't that be nice'.)
    If we say we do reenacting to help people today learn about the past, then let's find ways to help bridge the gap of understanding the challenges they faced in the 1860s that are foreign to us today.

Civil War Maryland Patriotic Cover
CS6

Let's Keep Pursuing Abraham Lincoln's Vision of America

Is Abraham Lincoln's vision of government still worth pursuing?  Or have times and culture changed beyond what he envisioned 150 years ago standing at that National Cemetery dedication in Gettysburg?

Civil War Union Patriotic Envelope Design

"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

    As a senior in high school in 1971 it was my honor to be chosen to recite Lincoln's Gettysburg address at the Memorial Day Ceremony in my hometown by the local American Legion.  I admit I really didn't understand the creative genius of Lincoln's words.  I was just glad I was able to memorize it and recite it and not make a mistake when called upon to speak to those gathered to remember the soldiers who have served our country over the years.  When I repeated Lincoln's words our nation was struggling to extricate ourselves from the Vietnam War, and come to terms again with 'who we are as a nation'.

    Again in 2013, one hundred and fifty years after President Lincoln first shared his challenge of what our nation was struggling with in the Civil War, it falls to us to continue to strive to preserve our nation. It was not Lincoln who won the war, it was the multitude of soldiers who stepped up and gave their best. Lincoln may have set the vision, but it was the people who brought it into effect.  Even back then there were political thieves and scoundrels at work, just like today. By the grace of God, in spite of the anger and sadness of that civil war, our nation was given a new birth of freedom.  Through great sacrifice and courage those American citizen-soldiers won "Liberty and Union".  But what of the second phrase?  "Now and Forever"?  Let's recommit to working together so that it cannot be said what they preserved. . . we lost through indifference.

    Our current president may be too busy or too grand to "remember" the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Let's surprise him and the rest of the professional political class of both parties entrenched in Washington DC, and thwart their plans to spend our nation into oblivion and regulate us into helpless quiet sheep that obey their every whim.  Isn't Lincoln's vision of government -- "of the people, by the people, for the people" -- far better than what the political elites envision for us?

"Remember" -- Honoring Civil War Soldiers by Learning History

What's the value of remembering events like the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address?  What's the value in exploring history?

Remember
Drawn by Dawnielle Rowe, age 11
c.1993

    "History" has been debated, edited, summarized, rewritten, exaggerated by the victors, discarded as irrelevant by educators, etc. etc. etc.  In spite of all the limitations involved in understanding history, I still believe exploring history is very valuable in developing character.  I present this picture as evidence that even a child can understand the value of "history".  I recently found it when going through some boxes long packed away.  It was drawn by my daughter when she was 11 years old in 1993.  This picture she drew years ago reflects an attitude she was learning about "those who came before":  respect and honor them.  I still marvel at her integration of the two perspectives of "the THEN of burying the dead" with "the NOW of remembering them".  I wonder how much of an inspiration for her picture was the Civil War reenacting we were doing and how much of it was the fact that in the small church cemetery there in Pennsylvania were a few headstones of soldiers who had been killed in the war and brought back home to be buried.  She has not grown up to be an 'official historian'.  Yet even today as an adult she has an honest respect for the courage and sacrifice of those who have gone before.

    In our "instant" culture we are being lulled into thinking history doesn't really matter anymore.  Some say we have replaced valuing "honor and courage" with "cool & edgy".  That history is still important is shown everyday by how hard progressive elites in our educational system work at editing out old story lines about honor and courage in American History and replacing them with story lines that disparage our nation.  These progressive elites understand that what "perspective" on history is taught to our children will affect their outlook on our nation.  I've heard that it took Hitler about ten years of editing history to convince the German people that killing the Jews was a good idea.  History still matters.  Not just recent history, but history of the generations who struggled in building our great nation.  Should we let Abraham Lincoln's hope that 'those who fought at Gettysburg would always be remembered' be casually thrown away by our children and grandchildren?
    Yes there are events and actions that we cannot be proud of in our national history.  Yes there were thieves and scoundrels who wielded political and economic power that fostered pain and disgrace.  But I still believe that we have been a exceptional nation overall.  I still believe that the courage and dedication of the generations who came before us is worthy of remembering.
    Knowing history does not easily solve today's problems, but maybe it gives us some understanding of what options might be wise to avoid.
    Knowing history does not mean total understanding of how we "got here", but it often provides clues needed to better wrestle with the challenges looming before us.
   Knowing history does humble us a bit, making us pause before we presume that we are unstoppable. 

    "Remember" . . .  Do you think it's worth the effort to pass on to our children and grand children the attitude that its proper to value the courage and sacrifice of those who have gone before?  Or should we just "Forget It"?  Let me know what you think.  Pass along ways you have found helpful in encouraging the next generation to "Remember".

What Would President Obama's Version of The Gettysburg Address Be?

    Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama -- Two politicians from Illinois separated by 150 years -- How different would be their "Gettysburg Address"?
    President Abraham Lincoln on Nov.19,1863 gave a short yet profound address at the dedication of the Gettysburg  Soldier's National Cemetery which enshrined his vision for a greater America arising out of the conflict of the Civil War.  What would be President Barack Obama's vision for America if he gave the "Gettysburg Address"?  Given our current president's political track record, I submit the following spin-speech:

    Four score and seven years ago some rich white men of the greedy 1% got the idea that they could make more money if they didn't have to pay taxes to Europe.  They convinced the working class people to go to war and die for their vision of change.  They talked about liberty, but really meant the chance to exploit the workers.  They talked about equality, but kept slaves.

    Their discriminatory system has now broken down and we are a divided people, still asking the working class to die to bring about change.  I stand here at this cemetery dedication, having to deal with the divisions I've inherited from the failed leadership of the past.  It now falls on my shoulders to lead this country forward toward genuine equality.  The Union soldiers who fought here were fortunate to have the full backing of my Federal government.  They would not have won the tepid victory of this past July had it not been for the roads that led them here, had it not been for the tireless devotion of the Federal administrators coordinating the war effort from Washington DC, and it not been for my grand vision of where we must go as a nation.

    Have no doubt that change is coming!  My leadership will bring about setting free all those enslaved in the southern plantation system!  I will give them a new birth of freedom!  The evil serpent of states rights will be crushed under the heel of absolute federal power!!  Those enslaved will be given the freedom to work under the empowering supervision of federal regulations to rebuild those plantations into new and glorious communities where wise compassionate federal supervisors will lead them gently through every stage of their lives -- guiding them away from obesity through federally planned meals, providing family planning through free contraceptives and free abortions, educating them into becoming compliant contented workers supportive of my Federal government!

    Even now under my leadership, the compassionate elites of Washington DC are enabling the working class people already within my sphere of control to grasp the truth that their only hope for happiness comes from total Federal supervision.  And I promise you this day -- at this cemetery dedication service for these unfortunates who had to die to end the dream of the greedy 1% -- I promise you that this nation will become greater than Europe!  I am creating a new and greater Federal government composed of all the people living under federally mandated harmony, supported by the people's wealth distributed through proper federal channels, for the good of all the compliant people supervised by my wise progressive federal regulators.  Yes, the world will quickly forget the dead buried in this cemetery, BUT the world will never forget the wisdom and goodness of MY grand progressive vision!  FORWARD!!

    Times have changed.  President Abraham Lincoln understood truth and justice.  President Barack Obama only understands Chicago politics.

    It's called political satire.  Freedom of speech hasn't been taken away . . . yet.

Civil War "Soldier's Letter" Envelope Pictures Showing Various Postage Costs

After writing the post for October 26, 2013 on the Soldier's Letter 3d Maine Envelope, I did a search on the web for other pictures of "Soldier's Letter" envelopes.  Here are a few that I found that show some of the various ways postage costs were indicated:

Examples of envelopes without stamps, marked "Due 3":

United State Christian Commission Envelope
"Soldier's Letter"  Due 3

This envelope has the Soldier's Letter tag hand written with the name of the soldier, a chaplain. 

United States Sanitary Commission Envelope
"Soldier's Letter"  Due 3

This second example does not have the name of the soldier written on it, just the written tag Soldier's Letter, with the additional tag "please forward".  I've seen this sort of request tag in variations of wording written on other Soldier's Letter envelopes.  

Example of Envelope marked Due 6:

U.S. Army Hospital Envelope
Soldier's Letter  Due 6

This third example has the "Due 6" hand written in on it.  There is a name written in under the printed "soldier's letter" line, but it was still evidently penalized.  Why was this letter penalized when it has a name written on it?  Maybe it only has the name of the Chaplain and not that of the soldier.  I'm not sure. 

Example of Envelope with two Three cent stamps:

United States Christian Commission
6 cents postage paid

This fourth cover has only the printed tag, not a hand written one of Soldier's Letter, and no name of the soldier written on it.  The two stamps show six cents was paid to receive the letter.

 
    These examples are not presented as "definitive", but only as "illustrative" and "interesting".  As I said, I pulled these four examples off the web from sites that were selling them, so I do not have additional information to add beyond what we see on the covers.  There was a "standard practice" that was supposed to be followed . . . then real life brought variations.  I hope my grouping them together for you might be helpful in giving you some options to use in building your living history displays.  Any comment or additional information will be appreciated.

Soldier's Letter 3d Maine Volunteer Infantry Envelope

    Was there free mail for the Civil War soldier to write home?  The simple answer is "no".  I remember thinking how sad that was for the soldiers back then not to have that simple privilege extended to them as they faced life and death fighting for their cause & country.  Letter writing was an important part of the typical soldier's life.  Far from home, letters were the only way to stay connected with family & friends.  They would never get enough letters from home.  They stayed connected with home through the letters they sent back.  

    I recently picked up the Union Soldier's Letter Cover shown here.  I admit its not an impressive envelope and there was no letter inside to give additional details about the soldier who sent it.  It does have the basic notation in the upper right corner of "Soldier's letter" along with the unit designation (3d Maine Regiment Volunteers, possibly company H in the third line down).  The cover is stamped with an Alexandria VA cancellation.  The 3d Maine fought at first Bull Run July 1861, the Peninsular Campaign of 1862 and through the rest of the war.   As beat up as the cover is, I bought it because its an interesting reminder of an unknown soldier's attempt to stay connected to "normal" in the midst of "uncertainty".

Civil War "Soldier's Letter" Envelope
3d Maine Reg. Vols.
Addressed to Mrs Mr J Greenleaf? Bath, Maine

  The designation "Soldier's letter" recognized the reality that often the active duty soldier might not have access to a 3 cent stamp or have the money on hand to buy one even if stamps were available.  Though the letter would be delivered to the addressee, they would have to pay the 3 cents postage due to get the letter.  If the soldier did not tag the envelope with "Soldier's letter" along with his unit designation, then the family would have to pay 3 cents for the letter and 3 cents additional penalty for a total of 6 cents to redeem the letter.  This particular envelope is not stamped "DUE 3" but the Alexandria VA cancellation mark shows it went via the postal system, so maybe the postal clerk knew the family member who picked it up in Bath, Maine?  Don't know.  Like I said its not a perfect example with all the "expected" details of a Union "Soldier's letter".  This envelope's conformity with deviations shows we need to be careful in making broad statements of "this is how they did it. . ." 

    Harry K. Charles, Jr. wrote an informative paper on "American Civil War Postage Due:  North and South" for the Postal History Symposium, Nov. 2012 which has a good section on Soldier's letters.  Both Union and Confederate soldiers could send letters home, postage due (the family needed to pay to redeem them).  Charles says the proper designation needed to be "Soldier's letter" with his rank and unit designation, and possibly unit commander's signature.  The above cover does not have the soldier's name and rank listed; only his unit designation.  As with all things, there was some flex in how things were designated.  The Confederate soldier's letter would have "Due 5" or "Due 10" depending on what the rate was at that time in the war.

    Since letters to home were so important to the soldiers, they came up with various ways outside of the postal system to send letters back to their family.  Anyone going back on furlough was given letters and notes to take with them.  United States Christian Commission delegates would collect letters and carry them back home whenever they could.  The USCC handed out free envelopes and stationery because they realized the importance of keeping the soldiers connected with family.

    So how might knowing some of these details help us do better living history?  Those representing civilians at home could have covers showing an envelope marked "Soldier's letter" with the details of your soldier on it as part of your living history display.  Again, you could mark it PAID 3/ or PAID 5 or 10 to help you explain to spectators what you have to do to keep in touch with your soldier.  For a soldier impression, you could have a letter written up with the envelope labeled correctly that you are "planning on mailing out as soon as possible" to explain to spectators the details and the importance of keeping connected with your family.  You can use patriotic or plain covers.  You can use a USCC or USSC cover which has "Soldier's Letter" printed on it.  Just remember that you as a soldier would not have a Soldier's letter mailed to you from the folks back home.
    At the tent I hand out  to the reenactors who visit us a gift of a USCC or a Plain cover stationery set.  If you are a reenactor, and if you place a regular order just tell me what you portray (US or CS and unit type) and I'll include with your order a gift of  a stationery Mail Kit that you can use for your impression.