The American Civil War was conducted economically as well as on the battlefield. The Northern forces attempted to strangle the South by blockading its ports, denying it the wealth from its cotton exports and forbidding any imports. Poverty was the result for many families and they were unable to provide Christmas gifts for their children; the kids of the Confederacy naturally wondered why Santa Claus had ignored them.
One explanation was offered in a children’s book by Louise Clack, entitled General Lee and Santa Claus. Three little girls, Lutie, Birdie and Minnie (the latter still a hardened rebel because of the memory of her father who died fighting for the South) wonder at the absence of Santa Claus during the war years. They write to General Robert E. Lee as “the goodest man who ever lived” to ask him “whether Santa Claus loves the little rebel children, for we think that he don’t; because he has not come to see us for four Christmas Eves.” General Lee replies that he himself was responsible for Santa’s actions. One December 24, 1861, he says, he spied “the queerest, funniest-looking little old fellow riding along in a sleigh through the air” and bade him stop. He forbade Santa from heading south and told him: “Santa Claus, take every one of the toys you have back as far as Baltimore, sell them, and with the money you get buy medicines, bandages, ointments and delicacies for our sick and wounded men; do it and do it quickly — it will be all right with the children.” Santa replied: “I obey orders, General” and for four years he took the toy money and used it to clothe and feed Confederate soldiers.