Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 1862
Festive moments are hard to come by for many families during the nearly two-year old war. Few are the families not impacted by the great conflict, and times of laughter and joy inevitably fade away against the backdrop of a vast canvas of death and destruction from which there is no true escape.
And yet, brief interludes from reality provide much-needed relief from the sorrows and strains of nations at war. Today, just such a salve takes place at the First Baptist Church of Leavenworth, Kansas, an event framed in the rosiest of terms in yesterday’s local paper.
The ladies of the First Baptist Church give a Festival to-morrow evening, on Sixth street. The ladies have been very industrious within the past few weeks in making preparations for this festival, which will be one of the finest affairs of the kind that has yet been gotten up in the city. With a recollection of the pleasure at former festivals will come a desire to attend this, and certainly no one will ever regret the few hours spent in such society as will be congregated within the walls of the Christian Church on Sixth street.
Attendees likely enjoy this festival as much as the event announcement indicates they will. The warmth and mirth doubtlessly follows many on the walk, horseback, or carriage ride back home. Perhaps it even allows for a better night’s sleep than usual for many.
At the least, for this one evening the burdens of some citizens of Leavenworth rest a bit easier on their minds.
Source: Daily Times, Leavenworth, Kansas, December 17, 1862, p. 4 c. 1 (link)
