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War, War, War See other War, War, War Articles Title: Christmas Bells - A Christmas Carol's Civil War Origin Civil War | Article Christmas Bells A Christmas Carol's Civil War Origin By Douglas Ullman, Jr. Updated December 12, 2023 December 20, 2013 "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" has been a popular Christmas carol since the first musical version appeared in 1872. Originally a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the text was set to music by John Baptiste Calkin and has been recorded by the likes of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. A subsequent musical version penned by Johnny Marks in the 1950s became popular thanks in large part to the talents of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Sarah McLachlan, and others, who have made Marks' version the most commonly heard setting of Longfellow's text. Unbeknownst to many a Christmas caroler, Longfellow's poem has its roots in the American Civil War. Longfellow wrote the piece on Christmas Day in 1863. Nine months earlier his son, Charles Appleton Longfellow, snuck away from home and enlisted in the Federal army in Washington, D.C. The younger Longfellow excelled in his training and received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry in time to take part in the Chancellorsville campaign. He was ill during the Gettysburg campaign, but returned to duty in the fall of 1863. While at dinner on December 1, 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow received a telegram. His son had been severely wounded in a skirmish on November 27, 1863. A bullet entered Charles left shoulder, passing through his back and clipping the spine before exiting the under the right shoulder blade. The elder Longfellow immediately set out for Washington, arriving there on December 3. After two more days of waiting, Charles arrived by train in the nations capital. According to the poet, [t]he army surgeon who came with the wounded alarmed me by saying that his duty to himself and to me required him to say that the wound was very serious one and paralysis might ensue. That evening, three more surgeons gave another more favorable report. Charles will be long in healing, but he it will be at least six months before he can return to the service. In fact, though Charles survived his wound, his military career was over. In summarizing the ordeal to a friend, the Henry Longfellow wrote, I have been through a great deal of trouble and anxiety. This trouble and anxiety is evident in the lines of the poem, Christmas Bellsthe basis for the popular Christmas carol. I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, and wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men! It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And in despair I bowed my head; "There is no peace on earth," I said; "For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Poster Comment: I was cleaning up my computer a bit, and ran across some "Civil" War, etc. articles I had been meaning to get to. That's why you're getting "Christmas" in July. From: Tally Simpson, Camp near Fredricksburg Camp near Fred'burg My dear Sister This is Christmas Day. The sun shines feebly through a thin cloud, the air is mild and pleasant, [and] a gentle breeze is making music through the leaves of the lofty pines that stand near our bivouac. All is quiet and still, and that very stillness recalls some sad and painful thoughts. This day, one year ago, how many thousand families, gay and joyous, celebrating Merry Christmas, drinking health to absent members of their family, and sending upon the wings of love and affection long, deep, and sincere wishes for their safe return to the loving ones at home, but today are clad in the deepest mourning in memory to some lost and loved member of their circle. If all the dead (those killed since the war began) could be heaped in one pile and all the wounded be gathered together in one group, the pale faces of the dead and the graons of the wounded would send such a thrill of horror through the hearts of the originators of this war ((( https://splitbabyniblet.blogspot.com/2008/01/american-revolutionary-war-has-never.html ))) that their very souls would rack with such pain that they would prefer being dead and in torment than to stand before God with such terrible crimes blackening their characters. Add to this the cries and wailings of the mourners - mothers and fathers weeping for their sons, sisters for their brothers, wives for their husbands, and daughters for their fathers - [and] how deep would be the convictions of their consciences. Yet they do not seem to think of the affliction and distress they are scattering broadcast over the land. 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. But enough of these sad thoughts. We went on picket in town a few days ago. The pickets of both armies occupy the same positions now as they did before the battle. Our regt was quartered in the market place while the others occupied stores and private houses. I have often read of sacked and pillaged towns in ancient history, but never, till I saw Fredricksburg, did I fully realize what one was. The houses, especially those on the river, are riddled with shell and ball. The stores have been broken open and deprived of every thing that was worth a shilling. Account books and nots and letters and papers both private and public were taken from their proper places and scattered over the streets and trampled under feet. Private property was ruined. Their soldiers would sleep in the mansions of the wealthy and use the articles and food in the house at their pleasure. Several houses were destroyed by fire. Such a wreck and ruin I never wish to see again. Yet notwithstanding all this, the few citizens who are now in town seem to be cheerful and perfectly resigned. Such true patriots are seldom found. This will ever be a noted place in history. While we were there, Brig Genl Patrick, U.S.A., with several of his aides-de-camp, came over under flag of truce. Papers were exchanged, and several of our men bought pipes, gloves, &c from the privates who rowed the boat across. They had plenty of liquor and laughed, drank, and conversed with our men as if they had been friends from boyhood. There is nothing new going on. I am almost dead to hear from home. I have received no letters in nearly three weeks, and you can imagine how anxious I am. The mails are very irregular. I hope to get a letter soon. Dunlap Griffin is dead, died in Richmond of wounds received in the last battle. Capt Hance is doing very well. Frank Fleming is in bad condition. (He has been elected lieutenant since he left.) Write to me quick right off. I wish to hear from you badly. Remember me to my friends and relatives, especially the Pickens and Ligons. Hoping to hear from you soon I remain Your bud Pres Hix cam for the remains of Nap his brother and Johnnie Garlington yesterday and will take them to Richmond today. They will be carried on home immediately. Tell Aunt Caroline Jim is getting on finely. Howdy to all the negros. I have received the bundle of clothes sent to Columbia. The bundle contained one shirt, one scarf, and two pairs of socks. At least I suppose it is the one you sent to Col[umbia] to be sent to Barnwell at Richmond. I am a thousand times obliged. When is Harry coming? Oh! that peace may soon be restored to our young but dearly beloved country and that we may all meet again in happiness. This letter is excerpted from a book titled Far, Far From Home. a collection of letters of Dick and Tally Simpson, members of the 3rd South Carolina Volunteers. web.viu.ca/davies/H325%20...r/letter.TallySimpson.htm + + + + + + + + + + + "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men." Christ On David's Throne by David Padfield Premillennialists claim that one day our Lord will return to this earth for the purpose of establishing His kingdom. They further claim that He will sit and rule "on the throne of David" in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. The truth of the matter is that at this very moment, Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, and He is now reigning from heaven "on the throne of David." ... https://www.padfield.com/2000/christ-on-david's-throne.html Revelation 19:6 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. https://biblehub.com/revelation/19-16.htm btw...one of the cross-references is ... Revelation 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself
https://biblehub.com/revelation/19-12.htm I finally watched a video last night that kept popping up about an injured young boy (although his mother said he was a teenager, he looked very young) in the hospital who was staring up, crying real tears as he said he saw his father and Jesus, and proceeded to have a conversation with them; he seemed to be oblivious to those humans around him, although he praised his mother to Jesus and told his father she worked really hard to provide for them and that she missed him. He asked Jesus to be sure and bring his nurses to heaven because they were "so nice to me." His mother was trying to soothe him, asking the nurses at one point, "Is this normal?". At one point he said, "Jesus you're so pretty...you're so beautiful...your EYES ARE LIKE FIRE." I didn't know what to make of it. I thought he's either hallucinating and a really good bible student, or he really did see Jesus. I knew it was in the Bible, but wasn't sure where and here it is, Revelation 19:12. . I also had my Matthew Henry Study Bible open and was taking a look at the book of Joel. My eye fell on Joel 2: PROMISED OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT 28a (ref. to Ezekiel 39:29) And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.... I saw there was another video out there, but I didn't look at it. I wish I had at least written down the title. It was about many children having visions of Jesus lately. I feel we are on the cusp of something very Biblical. There is a call to repentance starting at Joel 2, verse 12: 12Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15Blow the trumpet in Zion (((IMO, as I have said so many times before, Christian America: https://1607covenant.com/ ))), sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? 18Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people... https://biblehub.com/joel/2-12.htm Matthew Henry Commentary on Joel 2 Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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