Several Retrospective Views of Thanksgiving Day

 Thanksgiving Day has always been a day of retrospect. The first American Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621, to commemorate the harvest reaped by the Plymouth Colony after a harsh winter. The colonists celebrated it as a traditional English harvest feast, to which they invited the local Wampanoag Indians. 

Days of thanksgiving were celebrated throughout the colonies after fall harvests. George Washington, our first president, declared the holiday in 1789.

By the mid–1800s, many states observed a Thanksgiving holiday. During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln gave his Thanksgiving Proclamation, declaring the last Thursday in November 1863 a day of thanksgiving. 

Turkeys and Football were included in this Holiday Postcard from 1900. 

Thanksgiving - Civil War 1863

Let’s follow the diary of a young nurse, Elvira J. Powers, who served in hospitals in the Louisville area and Nashville. Here are her thoughts just prior to that Thanksgiving in 1863.

“My writing progresses slowly of late and is often interrupted, for I am very busy. I would like to note down the duties and incidents of one day if time permitted, but can only select a portion.

Day before yesterday was gladdened by a call from Rev. H. M. Miller, Agent of Universalist Army Mission and his travelling brother, Rev. Gilman. I regret that he cannot be allowed to preach in this hospital. This religious thought reminds me of the early history of my own father, long since sleeping in a western wildwood, who when a young man was repeatedly denounced from the pulpit of a Baptist diving, w ho cautioned his hearers of the fascinations of that Methodist fanatic, who was setting the people crazy with his preaching. I am wondering how many years it will be before people can worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. What a pity that so few who fight for civil liberty know so little of religious freedom. 

We are expecting a Thanksgiving dinner at the hospital next Thursday. This community feels somewhat dubious about the turkeys, chickens and pies for two thousand mouths of soldiers. Certain it is that the boys would appreciate a good dinner, as they have had rather short rations of late.

Friday, November 25, 1863 – Well, our Thanksgiving dinner was a success. Nearly three hundred turkeys and chickens suffered death for the good of their country. When those, and the five hundred pies were cooked and placed on the tables in the kitchen the night before, I mentally confessed, while viewing them through the window from the corridor, that were I one of a regiment of hungry soldiers just from the front, I might possibly stir up a mutiny to make a raid on the kitchen and capture them. A portion of the dinner was the contribution of the loyal citizens.

The chaplain sent for me as usual to attend funeral service. Today it was in Ward 15, and of four soldiers. One was that of George W. Odell. He was but seventeen, in a new regiment and only out about four weeks. He had an escort of eight young boys of his company who appeared in uniform, with white gloves. We ladies followed nest to the coffins in the procession to the soldiers’ cemetery.

Monday, November 28, 

Yesterday was very busy all day in ward, with new arrival of patients from Nashville. Did not get time to attend service. Have written out applications for transfer, filled out medical descriptive lists, and have written out orders for money to be paid to the surgeon for patients unable to get to headquarters. 

We have one individual who goes by the title of Colonel. He came with the transfer of patients from Nashville, two weeks ago, last Wednesday.

He was brought in on a shelf. They had lain his head below the pillow instead of on it, and seeing him lie thus without raising it, though he made some attempts to do so, I went to him to assist and asked if he could not raise himself higher and on the pillow.  He said no, his limbs were all paralyzed except one arm. He raised his head and I put a pillow under it. 

Soon after, when accompanying the surgeon, while he was making out cards to hang in the little tin case at the head of each bed, this patient informed him in a quiet tone that he wanted his name entered as a private, as the boys were always expecting an officer to put on airs. 

He was a Colonel of an Illinois regiment. He had been robbed of his satchel, clothing, regimentals and $3700 by a ward-master of Hospital No. 8 of Nashville. 

I’m thankful for my wonderful life.”

Here's a link to the Diary as published: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/006784079

Thanksgiving Proclamation - President McKinley, 1900

Several Presidents have shared a proclamation celebrating the Day of Thanksgiving. Following is President William McKinley proclamation for Thanksgiving Day, 1900.

“It has pleased Almighty God to bring our nation in safety and honor through another year. The works of religion and charity have everywhere been manifest. Our country through all its extent has been blessed with abundant harvests. Labor and the great industries of the people have prospered beyond all precedent. Our commerce has spread over the world. Our power and influence in the cause of freedom and enlightenment have extended over distant seas and lands. The lives of our official representatives and many of our people in China have been marvelously preserved. We have been generally exempt from pestilence and other great calamities; and even the tragic visitation which overwhelmed the city of Galveston made evident the sentiments of sympathy and Christian charity by virtue of which we are one united people.

Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart Thursday, the 29th of November next, to be observed by all the people of the United States, at home or abroad, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Him who holds the nations in the hollow of His hand. I recommend that they gather in their several places of worship and devoutly give Him thanks for the prosperity wherewith He has endowed us, for seedtime and harvest, for the valor, devotion, and humanity of our armies and navies, and for all His benefits to us as individuals and as a nation; and that they humbly pray for the continuance of His divine favor, for concord and amity with other nations, and for righteousness and peace in all our ways.

In witness 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 twenty-ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-fifth.

WILLIAM McKINLEY”