"God, Bring Our Darling From the Fight"

Ahh, I love this picture. This beauty was completed by Thomas Nast in 1862. He was a cartoonist, and he had this print done to show the thoughts and feelings of a Civil War Christmas. I believe he was able to describe the Civil War perfectly in one picture.

Let's really examine it:

There's a woman on the left; while her children sleep, she gazes out the window. She seems to be on her knees praying hard for something, or someone. Actually, a battle had just been fought at Fredericksburg, Virginia when this print was designed. So this woman could’ve been asking God to bring her special man home in one piece.

On the right side, you can see a soldier. He looks lonely. He holds a piece of paper, and has snuck away from his comrades for some precious time alone to read it. I’m sure he’s reading a letter from that woman on the left.

Surrounding are smaller pictures to emphasize the focal point, the woman and soldier in the middle. On the top left and right are pictures of Santa Claus. Thomas Nast created the Santa Claus cartoon as well, so it's fitting he included it in his illustration. The Santa was added for a reminder of Christmas.

On the bottom right is a rolling ship at sea: A representation of the emotions felt by families during the Civil War.

The bottom left shows soldiers marching, showing what most men were doing at Christmas.

Lastly, there are graves on the bottom. Graves! A typical American Christmas doesn’t constitute death! But that Christmas was a Christmas during war. Nast brought war to houses on Christmas with that small detail.

What about the children in the picture? How do you think they felt? They probably haven't seen their father in at least a year, give or take. How badly did they themselves pray that Daddy could be home for Christmas? 

This is what most families lived through in these years. Husbands, brothers, sons; millions of men spent Christmas away from their families. They were fighting a noble fight, but families during Christmas didn't care about the “honorable” cause. All they wanted was to have them home.

Right now is the time between Christmas and New Year's; a time that Americans set aside for family. But have you ever had to spend a Christmas without your family? Thank the Lord that I've never had to have a Christmas with my family gone to war. I pray it stays that way. But you reading this right now may be thinking of a family member away from you this year. I salute you families; it's your soldier who keeps us safe right now. You feel the same way the woman does in this picture; praying for God to bring them home.

Let’s remember our heroes this Christmas and New Year’s; even though they may not be your relatives, someday they could be.

There's not a comrade here tonight
but knows that loved ones far away
on bended knees this night will pray:
"God, bring our darling from the fight."

Note: I strongly recommend you read the entire poem. It was written by a Confederate soldier, and he expressed his homesickness at Christmastime by writing a poem. His thoughts were raw and authentic. He said more in his poem than I could say in a thousand articles. 

Read Full Poem "Christmas Night of '62" by Confederate William Gordon McCabe Here

Sources:

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/Civil_War_Christmas.htm

http://cartoons.osu.edu/digital_albums/thomasnast/santa_camp.htm

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/on-the-homefront/culture/christmas-night-of-62.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/#