How the Civil War Inspired 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day'
It may not be as popular as " Rudolph , the Red - Nosed Reindeer , " but “ I hear the Bells on Christmas Day ” is a vacation classic . In case you require a refresher , here ’s Bing Crosby ’s rendition : Nearly 10 years before it was a vocal , the composition was a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem call “ Christmas Bells . ” It had been a tough couple of year for Longfellow ....