Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-09-21
THE BEST THING QUIT
Sound Letter From Il Soldier

SOu0O Letter from \
The following is a private letter receiv-
ed by the parents of the writer, who is a
solder from this county. Il has been
handed US for publication. 1t was " -,
ten in reply to a letter received ~ hin,
from some of his relations. rove OF.
preston to sentiments - 80. oron..d the
patriotic ire of the gallant soldier boy.
JET .ERsoNvILLE, IND,
Sept. 2. 1864.
Dear Fath..r and Mother:
Inc letter which k wrote the 25th,
came to hand last night. y
l was somewhat surprised, and made
slightly mad to receive a letter with such
sentiments as were in the last, and hope
l shall hear no more such language from
any of my friends. If / do, / shall not
own them as such, but they shall be
strangers to me forever after. 1t is play
ed out, having any such friends | do
not consider them friends, but enemies,
and think that any one that will think or
speak any such language, that has a son
or brother in the army, can not have any
love for them. l hope the sentiments
which k expressed are not your SEN
timents. / have taken an oath, that if
my father or mother, any of my brothers,
or sisters, or friends, were copperheads,
or expressed any sentiments but loyal
ones, ! should know them no more as
such for they have broken every tie of
friendship by being enemies to the
government, and therefore my enemies,
as I have sworn to protect the govern
ment, and do it l will, as long as l have
life and health, so help me God.
1t is time we made some distinction be-
tween our friends and our foes, and l for
one am for cleaning out these wolves in
sleeps clothing. or pretended friends to
the soldier. Friends to the soldier the
good Lord deliver me from such friends J
Do true friends refuse to give helpf Yet
they do SO by resisting the draft, and
| strengthening the rebels with their cry
of peace, peace Negro War; Negro E
quality ; and are against having negro
soldiers. Do they love the negro better
than their SONS or brothersf yet it seems
so, when they don't want them step be.
tween the rebels bullets and their sons
hearts. Are you afraid a negro will be
equal to yourselfi If you are you have
a poor opinion of yourself. As for me, ]
dont think l would be disgraced to fight
side by side with a negro, but / should
consider it a disgrace to be found in
company with one of those mean, miser-
able, contemplate, peace democrats.
They are a disgrace to the name of dem.
ocrat.
Il 1 have wrote to K telling her l die
not wish to hear from her more. l shall
serve every one else that l find out Is
copperhead the same, without any dis
tinction. l hope l shall not have Il
serve you SO, but if l find out that yoI
are an enemy to the administration, ant
would-be murderer to your son. l shall
most assuredly do SO. Every n tina
does not give the government their full
support, but simpathise with the rebels
helps them kill their sons, husbands o
brothers, that are in the army
Please get some one that can write
Union letter to write the next time, tina
is if you are not a c~opperhead. If yoI
are let me know and that sewers our re
lationship. l have considered this calm
ly, and am determined not to have any
copperhead friend
l am in good health. and am enjoying
myself frstrate. If you are for the UniO'
II remain your affectionate son unit
death. ANDIE ]. WINTER.