Christmas in Uniform

Diaries from the Front— 1862-1918

Many of us are lucky enough to spend Christmas in Vermont with our families, happy with the usual rituals of the season. Some s13,000 American troops, however, are spending the holidays in the hot and violent confines of Iraq, where the idea of a relaxed day of fun is the farthest thing from their experience, while others shiver in the Afghanistan mountains.

In tribute to them, The Herald offers the following Christmas diaries, transcribed by Marian Leavitt Levasseur of East Barnard from two family treasures. One is from 1962 in the Civil War; the other covers the Decembers from 1917 and 1918.

It takes some imagination to read these entries. What may be striking at first about these entries is that they are boring. And that is precisely correct and poignant: Instead of celebrating a special time full of visits and happenings, these young men are experiencing days of tedium far from home, where he only excitement is likely to be violent and unwelcome.

It is important to imagine, too, that when Amos Leavitt says he "was on guard" for the day, that means he was at full alert and in danger throughout the day. And when he says he worked on the barracks and had a battalion drill, that means he spent the morning in backbreaking labor and the afternoon in strenuous marching, all while coming home in the evening to a tiny tent with a firepit in the ground.

Amos Leavitt—Virginia, 1862

Marian Leavitt Levasseur writes: "Some of my Leavitt relatives went off to fight in the Civil War. Here are some excerpts of Great Great Uncle Amos Leavitt’s diary. It’s interesting to note that they had half a day of rest onf Christmas day and "went to meeting" probably meant they attended church services.

ADD ENTRIES HERE; ONE PARAGRAPH PER DAY

L. Dudley Leavitt—France, 1917

"My dad was in the U. S. Army in France during the First World War from Sept. 23, 1917 to April 17, 1919. He secretly carried a small diary, where he recorded the Christmas seasons of 1917 and 1918."

ADD 1917 ENTRIES HERE

L. Dudley Leavitt—France, 1918

(It may be mentioned that a kilometer equals approximately five-eighths of a mile. Thus, Leavitt and his company would seem to have hiked about 30 miles on Christmas Day for the privilege of being reviewed by President Woodrow Wilson.)

ADD 1918 ENTRIES HERE