Christmas Day, 1862 saw little respite from the war. President and Mrs. Lincoln attended church and then in the afternoon visited with wounded soldiers in the many Washington, D.C. hospitals. Sherman’s Fifteenth Corps continued its operations near Milliken’s Bend north of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Fighting continued in Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee, as both sides in this unique American conflict sparred for supremacy. Ministers on both sides called on a vengeful God to smite the enemies, while simultaneously and benevolently showering His grace and rewards on the public of their nation.