5fish
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You all remember WW1 Christmas truce of 1914 when the soldiers themselves made peace between themselves over Christmas to their commanders' chagrin. I found the closest thing in our Civil War to a Christmas truce more of a Christmas Caroling event. It happened at Murfreesboro, Tennessee December 26th in 1862...
Link: https://thelateunpleasantness.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/christmas-1862-a-civil-war-christmas-post-5/
On December 26, the two sides faced each other across the river, awaiting battle on the morrow. On one side a regimental band piped up; on the other side an enemy band replied in kind. One side played Dixie; the other Yankee Doodle; and so it went on the eve of battle, until the battle of bands ended with both sides playing Home, Sweet, Home in unison.
The thoughts and prayers of loved ones at home on Christmas Eve were for the safety of their soldiers at the front. While in camp, it seems, Santa had declared for the Union cause—at least insofar as Thomas Nast was concerned.
Snip... A book... https://www.amazon.com/God-Rest-Merry-Soldiers-Christmas-ebook/dp/B001N89KT0
Christmas had just passed, and for many of these battle-wearied young soldiers the holiday season was a melancholy reminder of the families and loved ones they’d left behind. Bands from both camps played patriotic songs in an attempt to raise spirits, a musical duel that presaged the bloody battle to come. Then, something extraordinary occurred. One of the bands began playing a popular sentimental tune called “Home Sweet Home.” Soon, bands from both sides picked up the tune, and before long thousands of Northern and Southern soldiers had joined together in song
A book about the event...
To read: https://books.google.com/books?id=3inb7SPirm0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=union+and+confederate+soldier+have+a+contest+of+christmas+carol&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi3lt-_5brmAhUriOAKHcz6Cb8Q6AEwAXoECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=union and confederate soldier have a contest of christmas carol&f=false
Link: https://thelateunpleasantness.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/christmas-1862-a-civil-war-christmas-post-5/
On December 26, the two sides faced each other across the river, awaiting battle on the morrow. On one side a regimental band piped up; on the other side an enemy band replied in kind. One side played Dixie; the other Yankee Doodle; and so it went on the eve of battle, until the battle of bands ended with both sides playing Home, Sweet, Home in unison.
The thoughts and prayers of loved ones at home on Christmas Eve were for the safety of their soldiers at the front. While in camp, it seems, Santa had declared for the Union cause—at least insofar as Thomas Nast was concerned.
Snip... A book... https://www.amazon.com/God-Rest-Merry-Soldiers-Christmas-ebook/dp/B001N89KT0
Christmas had just passed, and for many of these battle-wearied young soldiers the holiday season was a melancholy reminder of the families and loved ones they’d left behind. Bands from both camps played patriotic songs in an attempt to raise spirits, a musical duel that presaged the bloody battle to come. Then, something extraordinary occurred. One of the bands began playing a popular sentimental tune called “Home Sweet Home.” Soon, bands from both sides picked up the tune, and before long thousands of Northern and Southern soldiers had joined together in song
A book about the event...
To read: https://books.google.com/books?id=3inb7SPirm0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=union+and+confederate+soldier+have+a+contest+of+christmas+carol&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi3lt-_5brmAhUriOAKHcz6Cb8Q6AEwAXoECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=union and confederate soldier have a contest of christmas carol&f=false