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Andy Waskie of The General Meade Society in Philadelphia recently posted excerpts of the General's letters to his wife at Christmas. A few of those excerpts are presented below.

General Meade at Christmas
by Anthony Waskie, The General Meade Society and Temple University

Christmas Day, 1861. Camp Pierpont, VA. HQ 2nd Brigade, P.R.V.C.
(Pennsylvania Reserves)

“I write a few lines on this day of rejoicing and festivity, to let you know I am well, and though absent from you in the body, that I am with you and my dear children in spirit and thought. This day is the anniversary commemorating the great promise held out to all mankind, let us hope it may promise speedy peace and happiness to us in this world as well as the one to come. God grant it may be so!”

Christmas, 1862. HQ Fifth Army Corps Opposite Fredericksburg, VA

“I was very sorry I could not be at home to spend Christmas with you and the children, but I was glad to let George (son) go. I spent a very quiet day in camp, attending to the business of re-enlisting the veteran volunteers, to which I had to give much personal attention, as I had let (many) go to Washington to spend the day.”

Christmas, 1864. HQ Army of the Potomac. Petersburg, VA.

"I think the Confederacy is beginning to shake, and if we can only get the three hundred thousand (300,000) men the President has called for, and they prove good fighting men, I believe next summer we will conquer a peace, if not sooner. God grant it may be so!”

With the end of the Rebellion and the nation preserved, Maj. Gen. Meade returned home to Philadelphia and peacetime duties. For the rest of his shortened life, he would be privileged to spend the remaining seven (7) Christmas Days at home with his beautiful wife and family in his beloved home, Philadelphia.

Merry Christmas all!