Page 20 - Discover Winter 2023

Civil War Santa Claus CONTINUED
C iv i l W a r S a n ta C l a us C O NTINUED

a common “Christmas Spirit”. Clement Clarke visit from his sister, who was a teacher, and a
Moore’s famous “A Visit From St. Nicholas”, conversation about her tradition of reading “A
which is now known as “The Night Before Visit From St. Nicholas” to her students each year,
Christmas”, was penned in 1837. Carols such as Nast was inspired, and burned the midnight oil as
“Jingle Bells”, introduced in the 1850s, added to he created our modern vision of the jolly old elf.
the formation of our own traditions, but it wasn’t
What is perhaps most unusual about this
until much later that our customs of the season
illustration was that it was done to accompany
were uniformly established. It took a truly dark
an article inside the magazine, entitled “Santa
time in our nation’s history to make that happen.
Claus Among Our Soldiers”. The year was 1862,
Thomas Nast, himself a German and we were a country torn asunder by the “Civil
immigrant, was an illustrator for Harper’s War”/”The War Between the States”/”The War
Weekly, which was then a popular publication. of Northern Aggression”, depending upon one’s
He is credited with the ‘invention’ of the point of view.
political cartoon, for his attacks on Boss Tweed’s
In this original depiction, Santa was
“Tammany Hall” political machine in 1870s New
attired in a “Stars and Stripes” outfit, handing
York. He was the creator of the Republican party
out presents to Union troops. It was explained to
elephant, and popularized the Democrat party
children that “You mustn’t think that Santa Claus
donkey as well. But even more popular and well
comes to you alone.” In keeping with the partisan
known to all is his depiction of the traditional
theme, Santa was dangling a puppet named “Jeff”
American version of Santa Claus, inspired by the
from a noose, an obvious effigy of Confederate
Moore poem that we all know and love.
President Jefferson Davis.
He had been tasked with drawing a
Nast went on to create further illustrations
cover illustration for Harper’s Weekly, and was
of him in more familiar garb, establishing a
suffering from a case of artist’s block. After a

18 Discover Smith Mountain Lake WINTER 2022