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Posted 11/22/2016 06:33 am
Here's a period, newspaper article that is telling of the copperhead phenomenon. It seems that the original copperhead badges were fashioned from cut-out Liberty Head large cents. So as to avoid reprisal, many copperheads took to simply carrying the "shaved down" coppers as pocket pieces to show fellow sympathizers. Love the history!
Quote:
Commercial Times - Oswego - May 21, 1864
RETURNED SOLDIERS PUNISH A COPPERHEAD -
—
An exciting affair took place last evening at Shunpike, a small station on the Central road, a short distance west of Auburn. When the train containing the 26th regiment reached there, the station keeper made his appearance wearing a copperhead badge on his coat, in plain sight. This disloyal exhibition incensed the soldiers, and in less time than we are relating the occurrence, the odious emblem was torn off. The station keeper, allowing his zeal in a bad cause to out-do his discretion, got very mad, and starting for his house, declared that he would get his pistol and shoot his assailants. Upon this some two hundred of the soldiers surrounded the house, smashed in the windows and doors and nearly destroyed the structure. They would have severely handled the misguided copperhead himself, if he had not made haste to escape by a back door. The conductor of the train, upon hearing of the occurrence, hurried up the departure of the train. The copperheads will learn speedily that the soldiers look upon them as no better than rebels in arms, and woe be to them it they do not keep their unpatriotic feelings within due bounds. - Syracuse Journal
Commercial Times - Oswego - May 21, 1864
RETURNED SOLDIERS PUNISH A COPPERHEAD -
—
An exciting affair took place last evening at Shunpike, a small station on the Central road, a short distance west of Auburn. When the train containing the 26th regiment reached there, the station keeper made his appearance wearing a copperhead badge on his coat, in plain sight. This disloyal exhibition incensed the soldiers, and in less time than we are relating the occurrence, the odious emblem was torn off. The station keeper, allowing his zeal in a bad cause to out-do his discretion, got very mad, and starting for his house, declared that he would get his pistol and shoot his assailants. Upon this some two hundred of the soldiers surrounded the house, smashed in the windows and doors and nearly destroyed the structure. They would have severely handled the misguided copperhead himself, if he had not made haste to escape by a back door. The conductor of the train, upon hearing of the occurrence, hurried up the departure of the train. The copperheads will learn speedily that the soldiers look upon them as no better than rebels in arms, and woe be to them it they do not keep their unpatriotic feelings within due bounds. - Syracuse Journal
Edited by ExoGuy
11/22/2016 06:34 am
11/22/2016 06:34 am
