The Christmas truce
It was a respite. There are many heart-touching Christmas stories but few touch what is known as “The Christmas Truce.” WWI was a conflict between European States, of mechanized war, weapons of mass destruction including poison gasses. Opposing armies were hunkered down in trenches, separated by a “no man’s land” of mines, barbed wire and mud. In the South there are stories of what we still call “The War.” Southerners were close observers since most fighting was in the South except for conflicts in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Kansas Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Minnesota. Armies had early warning systems against surprise attack. Sentries nearest to the enemy line were known as “pickets.” An army of tin cups could not move silently. The pickets were sometimes a hundred yards, sometimes less, apart.
The Union blockade prevented shipments of coffee. The ban of trade with Southern states denied the north of tobacco. Informal interaction was common. This was a war between Americans, “opponents” rather than enemies. Tales abound of friends and relatives meeting on the field, offering comfort, water, a companion while dying.
There is a story of the Masonic Lodge of Campbellton, Ga., welcoming Masonic Brothers of the Union Army, who crossed the Chattahoochee River for a meal and Masonic fellowship. Campbellton Lodge #76 still meets in the same building since 1848 although the town of Campbellton is long gone.
Before America joined WWI French and British armies were locked in trench warfare with Germany. The invention of the machine gun made exposure deadly. Men lived, fought and died in the trenches on both sides.
On Christmas of 1914, the first Christmas of the war, one group began singing “Silent Night” which was answered by the other side in unison. “Stille Nacht,” was written in German nearly a hundred years before.
Someone ventured out without weapons and soon others followed. They offered greetings, simple gifts of cigarettes, beer and used the time to recover their dead in “no man’s land.” German bands cranked up, they chose sides and played soccer, took photographs, swapped hats.
It was impulsive, spotty along the 466 mile front separating the armies. The higher ups were not impressed and put a stop to it. It was not repeated. The next day they were again soldiers and killed each other.
Joe Phillips writes his “Dear me” columns for several small newspapers. He has many connections to Walker County, including his grandfather, former superintendent Waymond Morgan. He can be reached at joenphillips@hotmail.com.