The Sioux City Journal, September 1, 1901 (Photo of Civil War veteran)

The Sioux City Journal, September 1, 1901

THE BOYS IN BLUE OF ‘61

H. W. ALLEN 

H. W. Allen said that the most impressive phase of Civil War times was the red hot political atmosphere which prevailed during its period and for years before.

Among the many hatreds which resulted from this strife, he said, none was as bitter as the hatred for the “copperhead.”  The “old soldier” at this date can forgive the veteran “rebel” soldier and fraternize with him, but for the copperhead he still has a hatred that will remain while he lives.

“The village of Warren, Ill., was loyal to the core,” said Mr. Allen, “and it proved its loyalty by sending its fathers and sons to the front.  It was the banner republican town of the old First congressional district, which E. B. Washburn represented so many terms.  To the south of the village there lived a family of young men, who were of the copperhead stripe and were, of course, marked men.  When the glorious news of Grant’s victory at Vicksburg and Meade’s victory at Gettysburg came to Warren, its patriotism gave itself vent in an impromptu celebration, and it was decided that every wagon, buggy and carriage in the village and its vicinity should be hitched to horses or oxen and formed into a procession.  It so happened that the copperhead family of boys had come to the village to do their trading, and the oldest one said he would be blanked if he would allow his team in the procession, but when the procession moved he was seated on the wagon, holding the reins, with a strong guard who saw that he performed his duties in style. 

“In the village of Lena there was an old man who lived several miles west of the town.  He was quite wealthy, and, availing himself of the supposed powers which, his wealth gave him, he was very outspoken in his denunciation of Lincoln and his ‘hirelings.’  The citizens were preparing to give him a brand new suit, and had not the railroad section men taken him out of town on a hand car he would have had a new experience in life.  Fortunately but little blood was shed upon these occasions, but occasionally there was a life wiped out.  It was a very dangerous thing to rejoice over the assassination of President Lincoln, and to this day, I should regard death as only a proper punishment for such diabolical joy.”