Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-01-05
miscellaneous.
4 CONFEDERATE CHRIsrxAs.
TIE HARD LINES OF THE REBELS IN THE
WINTER OF 'e4.
ID. McCABE m THE AMEGIcAN.

I'D. MCCABE IN THE AMERICAN
Christmas day. 1864, was the Confeder-
ate Christmas par excellence. Outside
supplies of all kinds had disappeared.
and whatever comforts were provided were
of home manufacture The confederate
dollar was now worth Just cents in gold.
and -four was $500 barrel: sugar was
$50 a pound; salt, 81: butter, 80,
and beef. s35 to go pound. Wood
sold at 800 cord, and coal was not to
be had. save in a few Of the cities. owing
to scarcity Of transportation. The day
was Sunday, which in itself, would have
tempered the usual fneriment. AT coin-
try residence below Richmond and not TAR
from the lines of the contending armies
party Of seven-ladies and gentlemen all
Ia the ztrictest Southern sense or the term
were assembled at dinner. The man
sion had been proverbial Tor its hospitali-
~ befor the war. Now the welcome was
as cordial as ever, but the board was
spread in accordance with the times.
At the head Of the table was placed
large ham, worth $500; at the foot was
the last turkey the farm could boast,
sl55. The vegetables consisted Of cab
baye. potatoes and hominy, worth at
reasonable calculation. 800. Corn bread
was served. -four having been unknown
in this house for months. The meal OF
which IL was made was worth $50 bushel
and the salt that seasoned 1t 81 pound
Dessert there was none, but in its place
the hostess provided coarse, black mo-
lasses, worth $50 a gallon. The same
kind lady. ~ a rare treat for her guests,
brought out. with glow OF pride, steam
ing urn OF real tea-not sasairas-( worth
800 polnd) at the same time warning
the company that they must expect but one
cup apiece, a. this was the last in the
store.
After this there was coffee. made
from sweet potatoes cut into little bits,
toasted brown md ground to powder.
Such was Confederate Christmas dinner
in the last winter Of the war. From this
superb repast the scale descer ded to army
rations-a bit OF salt pol corn bread and
sweet potato coffee without sugar.
The company consisted Of three ladies
and 70 IT gentlemen. The ladies' toilets
the writer cannot venture TO describe, but
they were largely male up of ''home-
made" articles in the fashion prevailing at
the commencement of the war. The
tresses oil one were fastened with ''CoD-
fede-ate hair-pins,' made of long black
thorns, with the heads tipped with selling
wax, and the dress was of simple home
spun. With the exception of the master
of the house, whose age compelled him
to pursue the ways Of peace. the gentle
men were in uniform. two being officers
and two privates from the neighbOiing
lines The country road beyond the farm
was lined with slowly moving trains of
ARMY wagons. and occasionally small
party Of cavalry would pass by at sharp
trot From the windows of the mansion
thin, light clouds Of smoke could be seen
rising from the camp fires on the lines,
and now and then the dull thud of heavy
gun would break the stiffness of the scene.
and feecy cloud would rise over the
trees tops and melt away in the air
On the lines the veterans of many a
hard thought field were watching their an
tagonists with slcepless vigilance. some
on duty in the works and others gathered
about their fires toasting bits of army
pork. roasting potatoes or trying to bake
corn bread in the ashes. and recalling
memories of home and other days when
Christmas was not wont to wear so stern
look and life was easier. and the land
was at peace. Even then, amid the ruins
of falling cause, these stout hearts cher
ished high hopes that the next Yuletide
would see them safely at home once more.
happy and peaceful under the bright folds
Of the flag they had fought so well to up
hold-hopes that were destined to perish
ere the grass OF another spring should be
green