Thanksgiving all started in Plymouth Massachusetts in 1621.
“First Thanksgiving 1621” by J.L.G. Ferris, 1912
In 1789, George Washington issued
a proclamation declaring a day of Thanksgiving, as did John Adams and James Madison. "Perhaps the most significant proclamation was issued in 1863.” During the American Civil War when Abraham Lincoln Issued one himself.
Portrait of Abraham Lincoln by Alexander Gardner.
Thanksgiving had been widely celebrated throughout America at this point, but each state celebrated it on different days and times of the year.
One of the real driving forces behind the national holiday was writer and poet Sarah Hale. Sarah spent 36 years campaigning to establish such a holiday.
Sarah Hale.
On September 28, 1863, she decided to write directly to President Abraham Lincoln and asked him if he could use his powers to create the national holiday. A few days later, Secretary of state William Seward approached Lincoln with his opinion that a day of Thanksgiving should be a nationally recognized event.
William H.Seward
Lincoln agreed with Seward in saying that “the usage had its origin in custom, and not in constitutional law; so that a President ‘had as good a right to thank God as a governor.” 1
On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that the last Thursday of November would be a day for Thanksgiving and Praise.
As the last Thursday of November in 1863 came around, the Army of the Potomac found themselves once again facing off with the Army of Northern Virginia in the Virginian Wilderness this time at The Battle of Mine Run. Most of the Union Army spent the first National Thanksgiving day Marching towards Mine run, so definitely no time for celebrating.
On Monday, November 31, Elisha Hunt Rhodes of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry recalled celebrating a belated Thanksgiving Day.
Elisha Hunt Rhodes.
Courtesy of Liberty of Congress. 2
" Our mess servant found a house and what was better, a turkey. This they roasted, and with sweet potatoes and new bread and butter, they appeared to us about 2 p.m. Col.Rogers invited Col.Johns of the 10th mass. to dine with us. The good things were spread upon a rubber blanket, and we gathered around. The chaplain began to say grace when Bang went a gun and a shell from the enemy howled over our heads. The chaplain did not falter but went on with his prayer when two more shells struck near our horses. we lay close to the ground until he had finished, when I called for my orderly to " Move my Horse" The shells coming nearer and nearer we took the rubber blanket by its corners and moved under a knoll where we enjoyed a feast. Our batteries soon got to work, and our dinner was eaten while the Artillery duel went on. 3
“Thanksgiving was important to Northern civilians and soldiers during the Civil War and remains an important part of American national identity and culture through the present day. 4
Happy Thanksgiving.
1. William H. Seward 1861-1872.
(Derby and Miller, 1891), 193-194.
2. The Liberty of Congress Elisha Hunt Rhodes.
3. All for the Union The Civil War Diary and letters of Elisha Hunt Rhod 126.
4. Timothy Willging.
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