Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-04-14
Communications.
From the 9TH Iowa Infantry.
PROSPECT, Tenn, March 90, 1864

From the 9TH Iowa Infantry.
| PROSPECT, Tenn, March 90, 1864
EpyroR INTELLIGENcER :-Since | last
wrote we have had quite change in
the weather. With the exception of
few rainy days when we first came
to this place, or rather while we were
coming, we have had no rain, until
last night, when it came down beauti-
fully. Until day or two past the
weather has been cold as we'll as dry,
but it now seems more like summer.
Last week there was considerable
talk in camp that Forrest had crossed
the Tennessee river, at Eastport, and
would pay US visit at some place on
this road for the purpose of destroy
ing the road and thus cutting off sup
plies from Gen. Dodge's army. Our
anxiety on that score was soon reliev.
ed by hearing that the famous rebel
raider had captured some prisoners at
Hickman, Kentucky. We came to
the conclusion that unless the raider,
Forrest, was an omnipresent being,
there was but little danger from that
source, so you will readily judge that
we are not very badly frightened.
heard a copperhead say with re-
gard to Forrest, "That old coon is
pretty smart, amt he? 2" and now he
wants to know what call copper
head. Well, l must confess, the
question is not an easy one to answer.
If we're to be asked the question when
I was not suspecting such query, !
don't know but | should be some like
the individual who, when asked what
proportion was, answered, ratio )"
and on the other hand, defined ratio
as proportion. Now, if I were to an
swer the question, What is a cop
perhead 7 he is traitor, l should see,
after little thought on the subject,
where had erred. First, in not fully
defining the word, and secondly, in
CHASING the men who are fighting us,
with the ignoble sneaks that keep at
our heels.
Ialways believe in "giving the dew
il his due" therefore l would not de-
fame the character of the men who
are honorable enough to own the truth
in the case, and say they intend to
overthrow the Government, by class
ing them with copperheads, and I
know that even the guerillas consider
it an insult to be classed with copper
heads. / do not know that l can de-
fine the word correctly, but as far as
l am acquainted with coppcrheads
they are class of persons who are
very sensitive about some things. They
would not for the world-to hear them
talk-violate the Constitution. Their
conversation is something like the fol-
lowing: "Don't you think the war
would hove been over long ago if the
Government had pursued the right
policy? Don't you think old Abe vio-
lated the constitution when he issued
his proclamation of freedom How
do you like to be put on a level with
the negro. by admitting him to the
ranks, &c. 2"
But it would be folly for me to men,
ton any more of the numerous ques.
tons which one of these things will
ask you. The whole drift of their con-
versation is, that the Government
has been wrong, and the Rebs right
from the first |; that Slavery, and not
Freedom, should be the foundation Of
the Government. Although they call
themselves Union men, and say they
wish the President would call q mil.
lion men &C., their words betray them,
and their very looks tell the soldier
they are his enemies. They grasp
the soldiers hand aud say, God bless
you, have you got home once more? p"
and to bis back they say something like
the following 1.-The nasty abolition
pup, wouldn't be sorry if secession
had sealed his claim to pregmption
in Dixie"
This class are great lovers of the
beautiful, humane institution of the
South, -Slarery. And the very ones
who-to hear them talk-you would
think had q fortune at stake,
and all vested in negroes, could not
buy half a one if they sold at a penny
a piece, and those who harp the most
about negro inferiority. and argue as
pretext for keeping him in bondage,
that he is incapable Of supporting him
self, are pretty near as good as the
majority of contrabands. and could,
probably, if they were in the negroes
place, manage to live. While in
great many instances if they were
shareholders their darkies would have
to do the work and figuring too.
1t has been said that "a copper
head is a man whose head is in the
South, while his body is in the North"
l think all such had better take lit
tie wholesom advice, and remove their
heads, for the C. S. A. are about to go
up salt creek and if they are not care
ful they will be dragged along.
/ think about as good a definition
as any, is this /: A traitor who is too
big coward to fight, and who thinks
the soldiers are oil abolition pukes,
c,ho Jov,,t Lpoxv nuoorb 20 ook ,.,hav