|
It was a passing moment of cheer amid the harsh realities
of war.
On Christmas day of 1862, General Robert E. Lee, commander
of the Army of Northern Virginia, attended a holiday dinner hosted
by his valued "right arm" - General Thomas J. "Stonewall"
Jackson. Lee and some of his officers were invited by Jackson
for a Christmas meal at an outbuilding at Moss Neck, where Jackson
had established winter headquarters near Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Surely it was a rare respite from the severities of warfare.
Just three months earlier, Lee's army had been sorely pressed
at the battle of Antietam -- and Lee's attempt to take the war
to the North had been turned back in the bloodiest day of the
war. And less than two weeks earlier at the battle of Fredericksburg
- in one of his most decisive victories - Lee had his army overwhelmingly
defeat the Army of the Potomac. So shocking were the harsh realities
of war at Fredericksburg that Lee had observed: "It is well
that war is so terrible; lest we grow too fond of it."
Lee left the warm environment of General Jackson's hospitality
to return to his headquarters and matters of war. He passed some
guests that were arriving for a holiday party at the manor house
and was momentarily refreshed by the events of the day and the
warm wishes of "Merry Christmas General Lee." |