Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-04-17
THE JOURNAL.


what the Soldiers THINK o. t00
q CopPerheads Of the NorsA.
Mr.. ED1roR Although this is subject
that has been written on much, will venture
q few remarks on it. I believe if any person
has right to comment on this subject, 1t Is
the soldier, as he is more directly injured by
the Copperheads. While we are in the field
risking our lives trying to crush the rebellion
which now exists, they are 1t home enjoying
the comforts of life, and doing all they can to
prolong the war, in trying to divide the North,
knowing that the hopes Of the rebels rest up
on Northern division. We deem them our
bitterest enemies. One, Copperhead in the
North does more to tear down the stars and
stripes than ten rebels in the South. At the
same time they are towards. know no bet
ter comparison than to compare them to the
reptile, q poisonous snake. Lot US see how
they will compare with the ratt'e.snake,
though they, may be called copperheads In
the first place, they sneak and creep; they
poison and rattle. When the rebellion first
broke out, and when troops were first called
out in the North, they were found creeping
in the tall grass for protection They were
afraid to use their rattles, but when the $780,
600 men were called out, they commenced
rafting, saying "the South could not be whip
ped" but with much fear they crawled back
into the tall grass, lest they should be draft
ed. They remained in this State while troops
were being called out, complaining Of the
debt the war would cause, in this way dis
couraging enlistments; but notwithstanding
this, am happy to say that brave men came
Hocking in to rescue our country from dan
ger. Soon Abraham Lincoln saw fit to issue
the Emancipation Proclamation, which pro-
vided that all slaves be freed by the 1st of
January, 1853, in those seeded States that
did not come back into the Union by that
time.
1t is said that poisonous snakes 60 blind
during mad-dog days. They are more poison
GUS during that period. As soon as that
proclamation was issued the Copperheads
crawled out of their dens and began to rattle,
harping on the negro question. Thinking
a great many loyal men had gone to war they
then vomited their poison by writing to the
Courier, the Chicago Times and such papers.
Those secesh sheets, which have caused many
poor soldiers death, you find now trying 10
discourage enlistments, hisheartening soldiers
in the field, declaring that the soldiers are
getting tired Of the war, and that it is an alb
clifton war. Now you find them rafting in
public places, organizing clubs, and calling
themselves peace makers, although instead OF
causing peace they know they cause war
What do they think of using negroes as sold
iers? This does not suit them. but if it were
not for cowardice they would like to have
commissions to command the negroes.
About the time the Conscript Act was
passed their mad days were over. They now
crawl back again into their dens, cease rat
ting for fear of being drafted or pressed into
the service.
Now if loyal regiment, like the 55th
Iowa, was to march through the North,
they would have trouble to find them. If
found, no doubt like portion of the 1913 tn
Illinois, they would be found hid in the brush
or some secluded spot. Now you find them
looking through the tall grass, hunting for
some short route to fly to Canada or some
other place for protection.
Copperheads, now is the time for you to
strip off your rattles, or, in other words, hold
your tongues, cease issuing poison or dis
couraging the prosecution OF the war. There
are but two sides to this question; you must
be for US or against us-for or against the
Government. Remember, we are not tired
of trying to whip the South, for We know
we can do it; but We are tired of reading lies
written about the soldiers discouragements.
Now is your day of grace. The soldiers will
soon be home; make your peace before we
come. Do not act like towards by tax ing ad-
vantage of our absence. Remember, you
have been the instruments of taking many .
poor soldiers life, by prolonging the war,
which you will have to give an account for
The sooner you stop the better it is for you
become united in the great cause of support
ing our banner, then we will soon crush the
rebellion, restore peace to our land and have
once more Union, Liberty and Peace, for
which we are fighting and willing to fight.
E. w. BRooKER,
Co. G, 35th Iowa,Regiment.