The run-up to New Year's Day 1863 brings no pause in the fighting 150 years ago in the Civil War. On Dec. 26, 1862, Union divisions approaching from the Yazoo River crash into Confederate forces in swampy terrain as they undertake an audacious bid to seize the rebel-held city of Vicksburg, Miss. The fierce battle of Chickasaw Bayou, or Walnut Hills, erupts. When Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman orders his forces to advance, his units are thrust backward by the Confederate defenders. Sherman was hopeful of capturing Vicksburg outright, but the battle leaves heavy Union casualties and dashes any Union hopes of a swift victory. The fighting, however, marks the start of the Vicksburg campaign, which would be renewed by the Union months later in 1863. The New Year would be only hours old when more fighting erupts, this time at Stones River near Murfreesboro, Tenn. Confederates under Gen. Braxton Bragg camp Dec. 29, 1862, not far from Union forces, and combat opens late on Jan. 1, 1863. Union fighters repulse at least one Confederate attack before the rebel forces withdraw in early January from the area near Murfreesboro.
Sunday, December 30
This week in the Civil War: Dec. 30, 1862
Fighting in Mississippi and Tennessee
The run-up to New Year's Day 1863 brings no pause in the fighting 150 years ago in the Civil War. On Dec. 26, 1862, Union divisions approaching from the Yazoo River crash into Confederate forces in swampy terrain as they undertake an audacious bid to seize the rebel-held city of Vicksburg, Miss. The fierce battle of Chickasaw Bayou, or Walnut Hills, erupts. When Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman orders his forces to advance, his units are thrust backward by the Confederate defenders. Sherman was hopeful of capturing Vicksburg outright, but the battle leaves heavy Union casualties and dashes any Union hopes of a swift victory. The fighting, however, marks the start of the Vicksburg campaign, which would be renewed by the Union months later in 1863. The New Year would be only hours old when more fighting erupts, this time at Stones River near Murfreesboro, Tenn. Confederates under Gen. Braxton Bragg camp Dec. 29, 1862, not far from Union forces, and combat opens late on Jan. 1, 1863. Union fighters repulse at least one Confederate attack before the rebel forces withdraw in early January from the area near Murfreesboro.
The run-up to New Year's Day 1863 brings no pause in the fighting 150 years ago in the Civil War. On Dec. 26, 1862, Union divisions approaching from the Yazoo River crash into Confederate forces in swampy terrain as they undertake an audacious bid to seize the rebel-held city of Vicksburg, Miss. The fierce battle of Chickasaw Bayou, or Walnut Hills, erupts. When Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman orders his forces to advance, his units are thrust backward by the Confederate defenders. Sherman was hopeful of capturing Vicksburg outright, but the battle leaves heavy Union casualties and dashes any Union hopes of a swift victory. The fighting, however, marks the start of the Vicksburg campaign, which would be renewed by the Union months later in 1863. The New Year would be only hours old when more fighting erupts, this time at Stones River near Murfreesboro, Tenn. Confederates under Gen. Braxton Bragg camp Dec. 29, 1862, not far from Union forces, and combat opens late on Jan. 1, 1863. Union fighters repulse at least one Confederate attack before the rebel forces withdraw in early January from the area near Murfreesboro.
Monday, December 24
A Visit from St. Nicholas
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Attention all hands!
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| photo by EofA/used with permission |
As you might recall, Phoebe is the original Uhura fangirl.
Nichols, an actress, singer and voice artist who broke racial barriers on Star Trek: The Original Series as Lt. Uhura, will become the last of the surviving main cast to appear at Phoenix Comicon.
Incidentally, Walter Koenig who played Ensign Pavel Chekov on Star Trek: The Original Series is also scheduled to appear at Phoenix Comicon.Nichols, an actress, singer and voice artist who broke racial barriers on Star Trek: The Original Series as Lt. Uhura, will become the last of the surviving main cast to appear at Phoenix Comicon.
Woo hoo!
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