TIP #379 - COPPERHEADS When one hears the word "copperhead", if you are like me, you starting moving slowly away. Having a fierce hatred of snakes of any sort (although I know they are helpful and needed!), when a gentleman wrote me about the copperheads of the Civil War, I was intrigued. Did the soldiers have trouble with snakes along with everything else? Copperheads were also known as "Peace Democrats" and "Peace Republicans" and although the majority of the Copperheads were based in midwest states, it did effect Kentucky with two of its native sons, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. Abraham Lincoln, who was born in our beautiful state was elected the 16th President of the United States as a Republican, based at least partially on the fact that the Democratic party had shredded itself into two division and didn't have the strength to come together and fight his election. The North was the home of the War Democrats and the Peace Democrats. They certainly agreed on one point - they didn't like the way the Republicans and its leader was running the war. The War Democrats did however support the fight to save the Union. In contrast, the Peace Democrats opposed the war entirely; they wanted a negotiated peace resulting in an independent Confederacy. Peace Democrats were found primarily in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana but their feelings spread throughout the north. It was not long, in 1861, that the antiwar Democrats were being called "copperheads" by the Republicans, and yes, the reference to the snake was quite evident. In 1863, the Peace Democrats had fairly well accepted their designation and became quite proud of it. It is said they pinned copper coins on their vests; the copper penny bore the image of Liberty. The most famous of the Copperheads was Democratic Congressman Clement L. Vallandigham who decided to introduce a bill calling for the imprisonment of President Lincoln and other Democrats. His list was large and included editors, politicians, antiwar activists, judges. Many were arrested without a trial under the orders of President Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton. The gloves were off and the fight begun; this was considered un-American. Copperheads became a term for Northern sympathizers to the South. This led to the formation of an organization named the: Knights of the Golden Circle The Knights of the Golden Circle was an extremely secret organization; it's members Copperheads. The Knights were quite active in Texas but the order spread to Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky. The majority of members were "Peace Democrats" who accused the government of becoming a tyranny. After a reorganization in 1864, the Knights of the Golden Circle became the Order of American Knights and, in 1864, the Order of the Sons of Liberty. Supreme Commander Clement L Vallandingham was at its head. Its radical members discouraged enlisting in the services, resisting the draft and shielding deserters. It was reported in some Southern newspapers that this would swell the ranks of John Hunt Morgan and his 1863 raids in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. However, with more and more Union victories in the Civil War, the organization soon dissolved. (c) Copyright 06 February 2002, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved. sogrin@glasgow-ky.com Col. Sandi Gorin, 205 Clements, Glasgow, KY 42141 (270) 651-9114 Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/ SCKY resource links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html < >< God Bless America ><>