Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-09-02
A Soldiers Reply to his Copper
head Correspondent

We have been furnished with a copy OF
letter from a private soldier of Co. A,
l4Sth n. y. v, written in reply to a let
ter he received from a Copperhead resi-,
ding in Fayette, from which some extract
will be found below. We regret that we
have not room for the whole of it:
CAMP NEAR PORTSMOUTH, V,
April 5th. 1863.
.Sr-Your letter was received last Fri
day. | am glad yOu are still enjoying
good health You use the
word Copperhead, and seem to boast Of
the title and accuse the Republicans OF
giving the Democrats that name. deny
it. No Democrat is Copperhead, but u
Union man. No Union man is "A Copper
head, for COpperhead Is a traitor.
blush for you, young man fitting him
self for the study of law, TO think that in
this enlightened day and age of the world.
you will come out in the face of the chief
Democratic organ of the land, and say
that the Republicans call the Democrats
Copperheads, when, to my knowledge,
that was the term applied by the n. Y.
Herald to Vallandigham and his sympa-
thizers months ago. You speak Ill def
ant tones of resisting the draft. What
else could you resist? The Government
made conscription legal, and he that re-
sists the Government is a traitor, be he
North OF South If the Government or
ders a draft it will be enforced, for the
army is in favor of it, and will aid in its
enforcement if need be. Yes, the army
is as ready to fight towards at home iand
any man who resist the draft is coward)
as to fight Southern Rebels. Death to
traitors, North and South, is the motto OF
the army and the one upon which 1t will
act. You may say that | am Il Republic
an. | refer you to the sayings OF the
Democratic Generals, Butler, Dix, Rose
cranz, Wallace. Grant, McClernand, and
the reports that they have sent home
Give the army the united support of the
North, and it will press forward to victo-
ry. Remember this: that every life that
Is lost, and every dollar that is spent now,
and will be hereafter, is charged TO the
account of the Copperhead sympathizers;
in other words, the North is numbering
her own sons. Yes, and you are helping.
You wrote me letter as full of disuniOn
sentiments rs any Richmond editorial
You sent me this letter to ALLEVIATE me
from the Government, to make me dissat-
istied, but You have not succeeded. |
read to learn, and study to comprehend
every object for which we are contending.
Remember, when you send such letter
to Il soldier, that you send IL to the sol
diers, for an insult to one is resented by
all The Government burst not draft in
Fayette? o, thou mighty Fayette, wouldst
thou contend against the Union? Surely,
thy brave sons shall triumph; surely, 500
voters shall conquer 100000. Makeno
more boasts, for they only make your fol-
ly more apparent. You say you would
fight for the Union as it was. Tie Union
as il was, was surrounded by all the appli,
ances of peace, till traitorous hands rude
ly tore the bond assunder, and gave us
our choice-War, or Slavery and dishon-
or. When the hundreds -ot thousaneS of
slain are restored to life; when the MANNED
are healed; when forests and villages re-
appear; when the live oak and iron of
which our navy is built are in their orig
inal condition; when the million soldiers
return 10 their families; when love and
prevail in the land; when the
halls of Congress are filled with represen-
tatives from every State; when the orange
and blue rag is unknown; when the G. 5.
A. is unknown, then you can fight for the
Union as it was, and only tnen. You talk
about fighting for the negroes. How long
since you learned that? please tell me-
At what time did the Government change
its policy. Or do you advocate the love
policy /. G., strengthen an enemy that
he may cut your throat. l am for saving
the Union if every institution, every man,
women and child, white and black, and
every vestige of civilization belonging to
Southern soil be swept from the face Of
the earth.
The boys who haYe read your secession
letter say that | shall tender you their
enmity and great disrespect, and are hope
full that ere long they can meet the brave
on their own ground.
EDGER c. CLOUGH, Co. A.