Year: 1863




Mr.. THoMsoN:-If it is convenient ard you
have room I would be pleased to have you pub
lish the enclosed letter in your next weeks is
sue of the Gazette. The writer is from " al
do township, Marion County, DemocraS in
politics, and a German by birth. The Iter
was written in reply 10 one from his friend
here, who wishing to get the "soldicrs" opin'
ion of the war, wGote that he was neither
Democrat or Republican, so the writer con
cludes he is of The peace party, better known
in the army as "eopperhcads," and answered
him accordingly. **


MURFREEsBoRo, Tenn, Mar 5th, 1868.


Dear Boss:-I received your letter of the
18th ult.. and was glad TO hear from you.
well and getting along fine. We have
been out foraging expedition for days
We brought in over 800 wagon loads of for
age. We have to go out great way TO get
anything. Our regiment was fired into one
day, but nobody was hurt. would like 10
come home and work for you, but / can not
DO not understand me that / am tired Of the
war, not by any means; not as long as there
is rebel in arms against the Government
We want an honorable and permanent peace.





States a party who call themselves Peace
Democrats, but better known in the army as
F." Copperheads." We despise these cowardIy
home traitors more than we do the rebels in
arms against US. The Southern rebels have
declared that nothing but separation would do
to establish peace. Their government is not
yet recognized by any other Government.
Shall we be first to recognize their iudepen-
dance, and even if we would acknowledge their
independence would that establish even tenn
porary peace? Would they not despise US,
and make war upon us, and even carry the
war into our free States? Would not the
whole civilized world point the finger of scorn
at US and say, See how the great have faIlen?
The Southern rebels commenced this war,
they have insulted our flag, they have tramp
led and dragged it in the dust, and we will car
ry on this war until they sue for peace.


We despise all Northern traitors. They are
opposed to all measures adopted by the Gov
ernment, they reln<e 10 support the Govern
nent by furnishing men and money to recruit
oar army, they discourage enlistment and en-
courage desertions, they have sold their birth
right for a mess of pottage, and deserve not to





are opposed to the employment of negroes in
the army, bus they rejoice to see rebels en-
ploy them, and they would rejoice to see the
Northwestern States joined TO the Southern
Conlederacy, and slavery spread all over our
free and fertile country. The southern slave
holders previous to this war accused the
northern prople of enticing their slaves to run
away, and they were then protected by the
laws of the United States, in the form of the
! fugitive slave law, but if we now acknowledge
their independence, ard draw line of separa-
tion, the boundary Of free and slave States,
would slavery then be more secure, would the
slaves be less inclined to run away, who would
guard that line Would there not be con-
tinual trouble and war in our border States
God protect US from such fate.


The echo of the frst gun fred at Fort
Sumter, called millions of men to leave their
comfortable homes, and rally around the Star
Spangled Banner, to defend the Government.
Our army is yet able and willing to fight the
rebels. But the curse of the army rests upon
the heads of those cowardly home traitors
If they take up arms and join their rebel as
soeistes now in the field, we will fight them,
and annihiate them, but they are too coward
| ly to do that, we would not have our army
disgraced by having them in our ranks, the
rebels dispise them as much as we do, they are
traitors of the blackest dye, there can be no
neutral party in these days, he that is not for
US is against us.


AT home aroHnd cheerful fresides they sit
and criticise the conduct of this General and
that one, and yet know no more about the art
of war than eur pup about theology Be
ware Of the terrible retribution that is falling
upon you, should you persist in your damnable
deeds of treason. Loyal people of the free
States, wake up, and put stop to their hell
ish operations. Our army is as true to the Gov
ernment as the needle to the pole; we are in
favor of carrying on and prosecuting the war
until the rebels sue for peace.


viii close, and remain respectfully your
| friend, ADAM MAYER.