A Republican-oriented newspaper reprinted a letter from a soldier at the front admonishing his son in New York City to avoid being a Copperhead. From The New-York Times September 18, 1864:
… To the Editor of the New- York Times
NEW-YORK, Thursday, Sept. 8, 1864.
The accompanying extracts are from a letter received from one of the soldiers of GRANT’s army, written to his son in this City. I send them to you because they came from an old Democrat and blunt old soldier:
Very respectfully, E.S.A.
PETERSBURGH, VA., Aug. 28, 1864.
MY DEAR SON: Your last welcome letter I received in due time. Glad to know that you are well. I am hearty and rugged, but wearied somewhat from our long march. * * * We are now before Petersburgh, and shall remain under fire for weeks, unless we take the place. There is not much infantry firing, but the pickets and artillery do not cease night or day. There is more danger in camp than in field.
* * * * * * * * * * You allude to a portion of my last letter as containing some objectionable phrases, and accuse me of that of which I am not guilty. I called no one in particular a Copperhead, nor did I threaten much. But I tell you now, as I told you then, that, had it not been for the rebel sympathizers, (Copperheads,) this war would have been ended months ago. In regard to the Administration, we are in duty bound to support it. ABRAHAM LINCOLN was the people’s choice. He was elected by the voice of the people, and has a right to their whole aid in his measures to suppress treason. Why not let politics alone, unite firmly and put down the rebellion, and attend to political affairs afterward?
JEFF. DAVIS recommends giving and taking “no quarter,” “war to the knife;” and says that is the only way in which to stop Northern volunteering. If the Copperheads (or Democrats, as they call themselves) will not assist in whipping the Rebels and to punish JEFF. DAVIS, the army will do it itself, and attend to them (the Copperheads) afterward.
You tell me that you are a Union man and a Jackson Democrat, Let me ask you what is democracy?
Is it composed of “Minute Men,” raised for purposes about which the Government knows nothing? Does it consist in secret societies, lawless mobs and riots? In short, is it formed of material to set at naught both civil and military law? I tell you, no. Neither JACKSON nor any other good Democrat ever advocated such principles; then why talk of resisting the draft and bidding defiance to officers?
“A few mean, sneaking Copperheads have gone to the rebels.”
You ask, where are the men that have gone forth to fight for the Union? I will tell you. Many of them, as brave and true-nearted as God ever created, have given their lives for their country’s good. A few mean, sneaking Copperheads have gone to the rebels. Some, too cowardly to fight, have show off a finger or a thumb, or feigned sickness, in order to get into the hospital or upon the sick list.
We do not want peace upon any other terms than those extended by the President, viz.: an unconditional surrender and the abolition of Slavery. The better portion of the army will accept nothing short of this. JEFF. DAVIS says that he is “fighting for independence.” He is fighting for power and aggrandizement, and if the peace faction prevail North he will be the President yet.
I shall be happy to hear from you as often as possible, but I do not want to hear anything about “Little MAC and his hundred thousand.” If they will not fight under one officer they will be good for nothing to fight under another.
Affectionately, your father, B. …
