Bygones of Monroe:
Copperheads in Dundee
Raisinville March 9th, 1863
Editor Commercial – A few days ago there transpired in the town of Dundee an incident, the particulars of which should be made known to the public. Dundee, like a great many other towns is infested with that venomous reptile familiarly known as Copperheads. It appears that one of these Copperheads was spewing forth his slang against the Government when a discharged soldier stepped up and ordered him to desist. Where upon the Copperhead said, “that he was a secessionist and wasn’t afraid to own it”. And the true soldier deliberately knocked him down. He was complained of and a Copperhead magistrate fined the soldier four dollars. Now I for one consider that the soldier done no more than his duty and I honor him for the act. One Northern traitor is equal to three Southern. He is more dishonest because he does not come out boldly and expose his cause. He is low lived, sneaking, cowardly, and like the Copperheads, strikes without a warning. Should he then be screened by giving him the benefit of the laws of the Government he is attempting to destroy “and not afraid to own it?” For shame on the man who would glorious ensign in the dust and crush out the existence of the Nation and then when in trouble run to the government for protest.
T.P.
(Monroe Commercial, March 12, 1863, Page 2, Column 4)
