Soldiers at war also remembered Valentine’s Day. Though they appear less likely to purchase formal Valentine’s stationery, original poetry and letters of love came home in abundance. One particularly special valentine came from Confederate soldier Robert H. King, who created a paper heart with a pen knife for his wife, Louiza. Amid the grim reality of civil strife, soldiers’ thoughts still turned to romance on Valentine’s Day. For the enamored Confederate soldier who anonymously dispatched an ardent message from “Gen. Cupid’s Hd. Qrs.” to Mollie Woodson of Appomattox Court House, Virginia, three years into the war, the horrors of combat had clearly failed to weaken his romantic ardor on February 14. The letter I want to share with you is not a Valentine, but the most touching love letter I've ever read in my Civil War research, from Sullivan Ballou to his wife, written from Camp Clark, Washington, D.C., July 14, 1861. My very dear Sarah: The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Handcrafted Tokens of Love during the American Civil War | Luxury Valentine’s Day. During the Civil War, Valentine’s Day saw a fascinating blend of creativity and emotion manifest in the form of handcrafted valentines. These tokens, often made under constrained circumstances, were rich in personal significance and varied in tone and style. Valentine’s Day was a well-established holiday by the 1860’s, dating back to, it is attributed, the ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, and to St. Valentine who, it is said, sent the first valentine to the girl who had visited him in prison, signed “From Your Valentine.” However, it is clear that by the 1860s the religious Civil War-era Americans observed Valentine’s Day—and took advantage of the quickly growing Valentine’s Day card industry to send family and loved ones tokens of their affections. As evidenced by the following examples—all from the collections of the Library Company of Philadelphia —these Civil War valentines could at times be more SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGEM) - For one Illinois Civil War soldier, his valentine literally saved his life with love letters. The letters belonged to Samuel Knoles, a soldier from Menard County. He served in the Union Army in Company K of the 114th Illinois Infantry. The Civil War is one of the first military conflicts in which a significant number of participants were letter-writers and diary-keepers; Hank Musty was one of many thousands of American soldiers who were able to trade Valentine’s Day gifts and/or maintain passionate correspondence with their sweethearts over the course of the war. Yes, there were some lacy, beautiful, Victorian Valentines sent during the Civil War, which came a few decades after the advent of the commercially-made greeting card. You are viewing an incredible illustration of Valentines Day from an original 1864 Civil War Newspaper. The leaf shows various traditions of the Valentines Celebration in the Civil War. An angelic figure is shown delivering a bag of valentines from soldiers at war to the women they love back home. Valentine cards have been a popular way to send affectionate greetings for many years. These examples date from the Civil War. The switch from handmade to manufactured Valentine's cards began during the 1840s. By the start of the Civil War in 1861, many manufacturers were marketing the cards to soldiers far away from their loved ones. On Feb. 11 the IHPA hosted Civil War Saturday at the Old State Capitol. The theme for the event was Victorian Valentines as members of the Soldiers Aid Society provided information how Valentine’s Day was celebrated during the Civil War period. The program featured demonstrations by society members dressed in period attire. IPHA assistant The Civil War is one of the first military conflicts in which a significant number of participants were letter-writers and diary-keepers; Hank Musty was one of many thousands of American soldiers who were able to trade Valentine’s Day gifts and/or maintain passionate correspondence with their sweethearts over the course of the war. Join us at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in the Delaplaine Randall Conference Room on February 11 at 2:00 PM for a special Valentine’s Day event, as historian and reenactor Noah Briggs discusses STDs among Civil War soldiers and what the army did to treat them. A “window” valentine, ca. 1864. Such cards were called window valentines because front flaps opened to reveal a hidden message or image. A scant five years later, as the Civil War began, Valentine’s Day took on new significance. Cards often depicted sweethearts parting. unrelated to Valentine’s Day, the following question was raised: Is the valentine authentic to the purported time period in its composition, both material and stylistic? Analysis of the valentine’s historical context, handwriting, and materials was necessary to determine whether or not this item should be included in an exhibition of Civil War 14 February 1945. The end of the war was months away, and excitement was in the air. National headlines boasted of imminent victory and how global peace was on the horizon. Happy Valentine’s Day! Here is a valentine card from your Uncle Walt, ready for printing and giving to all those near and dear—or not. The excerpt is from Whitman’s poem, “Dirge for Two Veterans,” which will be featured next Sunday. Happy Valentine’s Day, one and all. Valentine cards have been a popular way to send affectionate greetings for many years. These examples date from the Civil War. The switch from handmade to manufactured Valentine's cards began during the 1840s. By the start of the Civil War in 1861, many manufacturers were marketing the cards to soldiers far away from their loved ones. Howland Valentines were produced throughout the Civil War to lovesick Yankees and blockade-running Rebels alike. Whether from sweethearts, wives, mothers or sisters, separation was one of the most painful aspects of the American Civil War. Enjoy these images, and think of the men and women who shared them. My Love
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