Christmas in the South, 1864

I wish my readers health and happiness during the holidays and for the New Year. A friend shared this with me and I thought it would be a good post on Christmas Day. I don’t know the original author to give proper credit, but if you know, send me his or her name and I’ll add it to this post.

There are reasons, good ones, that Sherman is the most hated man in the South. Nat Rudolph in his essay “Why America lost the ‘Civil War’ ” quotes Sherman as saying in a letter to Grant: “You and I and every commander must go through the war justly chargeable with crimes.” You should read Rudolph’s essay. You can find it here:

A Sherman Christmas

A Sherman Christmas

DECK THE HALLS (Sherman Style)

Burn the house with lots of torches,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to make marches,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

On we move, our faces sullied,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Move the columns down the gullies,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing homes before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the tents and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Follow me the food we gather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I fill my bursting haver,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the landscape passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hide your food, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Sing we joyous, Bummers merry,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Shermans coming, hide your berries
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

One thought on “Christmas in the South, 1864

  1. Ohio State University professor Mark Grimsley discusses the myths and lies surrounding Sherman’s March in this essay:

    http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/grimsley1/myth/myth.htm

    Another recommended read about the March is Joseph Glatthaar’s “The March to the Sea and Beyond” which dispels much of the myth and lies perpetuated by Southerners against Sherman and his men.

    I am a proud descendent of an Iowa infantryman who made the march “60 miles in latitude, 300 to the main”.

    Regards,

    Todd Wilkinson

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