A USS Monitor Christmas, 1862-- Part 2: Some Liked Dinner, Some Didn't

Despite the rush to ready the Monitor for sea, the crew observed Christmas as best they could.  Jacob Nicklis and his 13 messmates pooled their money-- "a dollar apiece" -- and had quite a dinner of "chicken stew & then stuffed Turkey mashed potatoes, & soft bread" as well as "plum pudding & some nice fruit cake, with apples for dessert."  He assured his father that the dinner "was a good one I can assure you."

However, not everyone was so impressed.  Fireman George Geer wrote his wife, Martha:  "we hade everything to make a splendid Dinner in your hands but our Saylor cook made very bad work cooking to suit me but those poor devils that never had as good before thought  every thing splendid."

But, the officers, with more money, feasted even better.

And, Some Liked Their Fruit Cake.  --Old B-Runner