A Civil War Thanksgiving

Although Thanksgiving had been around for many years it officially became a federal holiday as declared by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.

Thanksgiving 1864 would usher in the third year of the country’s bloody Civil War and would be remembered in history as President Lincoln’s last as well as the last of the Civil War era.

President Lincoln delivered Proclamation 118 — Thanksgiving Day, 1864 on October 20, 1864 as follows:

It has pleased Almighty God to prolong our national life another year, defending us with His guardian care against unfriendly designs from abroad and vouchsafing to us in His mercy many and signal victories over the enemy, who is of our own household. It has also pleased our Heavenly Father to favor as well our citizens in their homes as our soldiers in their camps and our sailors on the rivers and seas with unusual health. He has largely augmented our free population by emancipation and by immigration, while He has opened to us new sources of wealth and has crowned the labor of our workingmen in every department of industry with abundant rewards. Moreover, He has been pleased to animate and inspire our minds and hearts with fortitude, courage, and resolution sufficient for the great trial of civil war into which we have been brought by our adherence as a nation to the cause of freedom and humanity, and to afford to us reasonable hopes of an ultimate and happy deliverance from all our dangers and afflictions:

Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens, wherever they may then be, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe. And I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of Events for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land which it has pleased Him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 20th day of October, A.D. 1864, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-ninth.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President:

WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.

There are many historical documents outlining the Civil War activities surrounding Thanksgiving week 1864, however, none of them, at least that I found, depict the activities around the U.S. Colored Troops.

Given this, I thought I would share some activities of the 5^th U.S. Colored Troops from November 18, 1864 to November 29, 1864 just before they embarked on the first expedition to Fort Fisher. The following extract is from  J. J. Scroggs’ Diary and Letters 1852-1865 (compiled by Larry J Leigh) who led Company H of the 5^th USCT which included our own Tate and Clark Cornute.

Nov. 18
Sharp firing to left hurried us out of our comfortable quarters near midnight. The brigade was in line in less than no tme. The firing did not continue long and the regt.’s were dismissed; the “Starf” returning to their virtuous couches, the firing was on the Bermuda line and tis said the Johnnies captured a Col. and 100 pickets.

Nov. 19, 20
Very wet and disagreeable.

Nov. 21
Three days unceasing rain has put the roads in horrible condition. Some places are impassable until “Corduroyed.”

Nov. 22
I received a circlet of the precious metal a birthday gift from my dear wife. I slid it on the small digit of my dexter with great complacency. It will there remain an ever present reminder of the giver.

Nov. 23
First snow of the season. Clear and cold, freezing hard.

Nov. 24
Thanksgiving Day. The people of the North have sent 40,000 turkeys and chickens to the Army of the James and also apples and nuts, so the men are having quite a feast. The officers are not counted in. What they get they have to pay for always. We did not attempt to get up anything sumptious at Hd. Qrs. Just having a good dinner—nothing more. I took supper with the officers of the 5th and had a pleasant time.

Nov. 25
Capt. Marvin returned to the regiment. The rebs opened a new battery and shelled our picket line at Varina Landing. I accompanied the Gen. out to see what was going on. One shell exploded uncomfortably near us but done no hurt. Another burst near the Picket Reserve killing two soldiers and wounding two others. The two killed were literally torn to pieces, shapeless mases of hideous fragments, when gathered together for internment.

Nov. 26
Made a visit to the Dutch Gap with the Gen. The rebs sank the dredging machine Thanksgiving Day and the work progresses but slowly.

Nov. 27
I received a Provisional Commission and was mustered as First Lt. today from 21, Sept., 1864.

Nov. 28, 29
Capt. Cock returned.

Just a glimpse into our ancestors Civil War activities around thanksgiving a 151 years ago. Remembering and giving thanks to our Civil War heroes and family this Thanksgiving Day 2015.