COPPERHEADS

The following material is meant to illustrate the varied views that relate to the Copperhead movement. The italicized description of this first letter, from the 7th Wisconsin archive, gives a succinct breakdown of the divisions within the Democratic Party of the time. We intend to include letters and material from Democratic papers and many more are within the letters From the Front, the most blatant in the
7th Wisconsin from S.J.M..

We believe the material helps to appreciate some period politics and editorial attitudes that can and have been picked up and presented as mainstream by modern chroniclers. They are reprinted exactly as presented at the time and some are, advisedly, especially to a modern eye, offensive. The first letter is printed here to emphasize that they were also offensive in period.

March 6, 1863

Letter from Capt. H.F. Young, 7th Regt.

The following letter, addressed to his father-in-law, Jared Warner, is from Capt. Henry F. Young, of Company F, 7th Regiment, and is published by request of the Union Club at Patch Grove, before which it was read last week. Capt. Young supported Stephen A. Douglas for President, and was always a firm Democrat. We do not suppose his mind has undergone any political change, for in 1860 the entire Douglas popular sovereignty party were loyal. Since that time the Breckinridge influence has gained largely and now controls the party. Capt. Young refuses to adopt the Breckinridge platform; that's what's the matter. And therefore, singular as it may seem, the entire un-Breckinridge-able section of the Douglas party, foes with the Republicans for a vigorous war against all Constitution destroyers and for the Union, even if a war of annihilation is necessary against all Copperheads and rebels in arms. These are facts clear as noon day light. Capt. Young's letter breathes the sprit which the soldiers now entertain and will bring home with them from the army; and then God knows whether moderation may or may not prevail to protect the sneaking cowards at home who are devising means to disgrace the Union army! Here is the letter:

DEAR FATHER: I received you very welcome and interesting letter from Madison yesterday; very glad indeed to hear that the people of Wisconsin, that is the loyal portion, are getting waked up once more for if ever this nation needed the support of every loyal man that time is now. Congress has placed almost unlimited power in the hands of the a President; that's just what was wanted. Now let the loyal people of the North sustain him; let them come out in their might and frown down all opposition; if the opposition can't be frowned down put it down in some other way, for it must go down; if men must be traitors notify them to leave the country and send them South, give them over to the tender mercies of their lord and master Jeff Davis; and if this won't do put it down with powder and ball, for when the ballot box fails us we must use the cartridge box; they are traitors and are trying to overthrow the government and give it into the hands of the South and they should be dealt with as traitors; they have forfeited all claim for protection as citizens from the government; they uphold a despotism; give them the benefit of their own infernal doctrine by sending them every d--d one South and when they won't go peaceably, force them to go then confiscate their properly for the benefit of soldier's families of toward paying expenses of the war. That would be my way of dealing with every man that in any way gave encouragement to the traitors. You may think these extreme measures; by the eternal I go in for any and every means to put down the rebellion. I now go in for arming every Negro with our lines and all that will be after come in form them into companies, regiments and brigades, giving them the same rights and privileges as white soldiers. I go in for every town and country in the loyal states having an armed vigilance committee authorized by the Governors of their states and that the said company of committee shall be held responsible for the good conduct of all citizens with their respective commands that they shall have power to suppress all newspapers that in any way or manner oppose all efforts being made to suppress the rebellion; further that they have power to force the conscription act; now this would not affect loyal and patriotic citizens, while all others have forfeited all claim for protection as citizens; the action of the Copperheads in the West and North-west has raised a howl of indignation in the army that will yet blast every man of the infernal clique to everlasting disgrace and their names to infernal infamy. Solders after one or two campaigns, after two or three battles, when they have seen their comrades shot down in battle by their side, become changed; they are no longer the mere boys they were looked upon at home. They have become grave, energetic and desperate men and are well posted on all that is going on; and let me tell you the soldiers have this day more hatred for the Copperheads of the North than for the rebels of the south; they heap curses on them loud and deep and if Mr. Copperhead don't hole up before this army is disbanded and sent home, he will be apt to find this climate an unhealthy on; the army is gaining in patriotism, health and good sprits daily. Gen. Hooker is weeding it out, almost every day there are a number of officers dismissed the service; some for absence with out leave, some for incompetency and many more for disloyalty; this is all right; hurrah for Old Joe as the boys call him; many of the officers took their cue from the Seymour party of New York and expressed themselves opposed to the administration and the war; the consequence is they have been dismissed the service with loss of rank, pay and character and now find their leaders have turned somersaults and come out in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war which leaves the poor devils out in the cold ready for the first conscription that takes effect.  This to is all as it should be.
The boys of the company are in good health. We are having rain almost every day with cold winds which makes it very uncomfortable. Give my good wishes to all friends.
Yours Truly
H. E. Young