Christmas Boxes in Camp--Christmas, 1861

1862

Homer created this lighthearted image while camping with the Union army in Virginia as a “special artist” covering the front lines for Harper’s Weekly. In it the soldiers have tossed aside their books and tracts in favor of newly delivered socks, mittens, and home-cooked treats. The somewhat sentimental engraving illustrates the spontaneous joy that Christmas presents inspired among the soldiers. Ultimately, the illustration was meant to lift the spirits of the dedicated women who sent such packages to the front.