Civil War Era Letter Copperheads Lincoln Assassination Mention Evolution Religion
Approximately 6" by 5" see pics for condition.
original 19th-century handwritten letter signed by J. S. Shepard (addressed "Adieu J S Shepard"). This single-page (double-sided) letter features remarkable historical commentary touching on the Civil War era, Copperheads, Lincoln's assassination, mob law, religion, and evolution.
[Page 1] "Copperheads. Mob law is dangerous and when it was sanctioned by the President and Congress it was no less dangerous and in the end the President fell by an Assassin."
"It has been my fortune or misfortune to generally be on the minority side in Religion and politics, but it cant be long before I shall join the majority on the other side if there is another side, I cant see any chance for mortals if there is an Infinite God who guides and directs all into [it] and it amounts to the same if we take the theory of evolution."
"As I passed an artist[’s] the other day I went in and had some hard looking pictures and I send you one as I have yours. Wishing you and your wife health."
Adieu,
J S Shepard
[Page 2 / Reverse] "Please accept" (Written in dark ink across the back of the ruled paper)
Historical References: Mentions Copperheads (Northern Anti-War Democrats during the American Civil War) and reflects on "Mob Law" leading to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
Philosophical Thought: Early discussion of the "theory of evolution" contrasted against traditional religious beliefs.
Photography Connection: Mentions visiting an artist/photographer to have pictures taken ("hard looking pictures") to exchange with the recipient.
The Copperheads—officially known as Peace Democrats—were a vocal and influential faction of the Democratic Party in the Union during the American Civil War (1861–1865). They strongly opposed the war, calling for an immediate end to hostilities and a negotiated peace with the Confederacy.
Their prominence peaked between 1862 and 1864, driven by Northern war-weariness, controversial Union policies, and deep political divisions.
Suspension of Habeas Corpus: When President Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and authorized arbitrary arrests of anti-war agitators, Copperheads framed the administration as tyrannical, arguing that Northern liberties were being destroyed in the name of preserving the Union.
The Emancipation Proclamation (1863): Copperheads tapped into widespread Northern racial prejudice. They argued that the war had shifted from a constitutional effort to restore the Union into an "unholy crusade" to abolish slavery.
The Conscription Act of 1863: The introduction of the federal military draft sparked widespread outrage, especially among working-class Northern whites and Irish immigrants, leading directly to the violent New York City Draft Riots in July 1863—an event heavily influenced by Copperhead rhetoric.
Geographic Base: Copperheads were strongest in the Midwest (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois) and in urban centers like New York City. Mid-Westerners often had strong trade and cultural ties to the South via the Mississippi River system.
Clement Vallandigham: An Ohio Congressman who became the most famous Copperhead leader. After giving inflammatory speeches against Lincoln and the war, he was arrested by military authorities in 1863, court-martialed, and banished to the Confederacy (though he later returned via Canada).
1863 State Elections: Copperheads came close to winning governorships and state legislatures in major Northern states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, posing a real threat to the Republican-led Union War Party.
1864 Democratic National Convention: The peak of Copperhead political power occurred at the 1864 Democratic Convention in Chicago. They successfully inserted a "Peace Plank" into the official party platform, declaring the war a failure and demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities.
1864 Presidential Campaign: Although the party nominated General George B. McClellan (who personally repudiated the peace plank), the election was largely seen as a referendum on whether to continue fighting.
Military Victories: The fall of Atlanta to General William T. Sherman in September 1864 and Philip Sheridan's victories in the Shenandoah Valley drastically altered public mood in the North. Lincoln won re-election in a landslide, crippling the Copperhead movement politically.
Association with Treason: Republicans effectively branded the Peace Democrats as traitors and "fifth columnists." The name Copperhead itself was originally a derogatory nickname given by Republican newspapers (comparing them to the venomous snake that strikes without warning), though the group briefly embraced it by wearing copper Indian-head pennies as badges.
Post-War Stigma: After the Union victory and Lincoln's assassination, the Democratic Party was tarnished for decades by its association with the Copperheads, contributing to Republican dominance in national politics through the late 19th century.