December 25, 1862
I will commence this holy day by writing to you. My heart is
filled with gratitude to Almighty God for the unspeakable mercies with which He
has blessed us in this day, for those He has granted us from the beginning of
life, and particularly for those He has vouchsafed us during the past year.
What should have become of us without His crowning help and protection? Oh, if
our people would only recognize it and cease from vain self-boasting and
adulation, how strong would be my belief in final success and happiness to our
country! But what a cruel thing is war, to separate and destroy families and
friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this
world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to
devastate the fair face of this beautiful world! I pray that on this day, when
only peace and good-will are preached to mankind, better thoughts may fill the
hearts of our enemies and turn them to peace. Our army was never in such good
health and condition since I have been attached to it. I believe they share
with me my disappointment that the enemy did not renew the combat on the 13th.
I was holding back all that day and husbanding our strength and ammunition for
the great struggle for which I thought I was preparing. Had I divined what was
to have been his only effort he would have had more of it. My heart bleeds at
the death of every one of our gallant men.
SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of
Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 212-3
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