No. 4. The Three Voices: The Soldier, Farmer, and Poet, to the Copperheads.

Original publisher's beige paper pamphlet. Text printed in black ink. Formerly bound together with other tracts. No date, circa 1863. 5 1/2" x 8 1/2." Twelve pages, complete. Pages are virtually pristine and intact except for light age toning and splitting and slight chipping along spine. A Very Good copy. This pamphlet is No. 4 in a series of pro-Union articles issued by the Loyal Publication Society of New York. The Society was founded in early 1863 to help boost morale for the Union cause through the circulation of pro-Union pamphlets after the Union had suffered a series of defeats in the American Civil War. This pamphlet contains the thoughts of a farmer, a soldier, and poet, all of whom are supportive of the Union and opposed to the Copperheads. They view the Copperheads as traitors. The Copperheads, also known as "Peace Democrats," were a faction of Democrats who opposed the Civil War but were Confederate sympathizers. Criticism in the pamphlet is leveled at the Copperheads and anyone who is pro-Confederate. The pamphlet begins by printing the speech of Mr. Funk, an Illinois senator and one of the wealthiest farmers of the state, which he made in 1863 before the Senate. The Democrats had been forwarding trivial legislation to postpone a vote on a bill that would give appropriations to the Illinois state government which would, in turn, help Union soldiers. Incensed, Funk gives an ardent denunciation of the Democrats' ploy and calls them "traitors and secessionists at heart." He proceeds to lambaste the Democrats for their behavior and says that through their postponement of a vote they are "killing my neighbors' boys now fighting in the field." Commentary within Funk's speech notes the swelling of admiration for Funk for standing up to the Democrats and a crowd forming around him to protect him lest any of opponents make an attempt to physically attack him. Funk goes so far as to say that the "secessionists at heart" on the Senate floor ought to be hanged. Funk contends that the traitorous senators are only concerned with making money and withholding funds as to embarrass and demoralize the U.S. government by not providing for the relief of Union soldiers. Next is a brief letter by a soldier, namely, General W. S. Rosencrans, who had sent this correspondence to the General Assembly of the State of Ohio. His letter was written on February 2, 1863. In his letter, Rosencrans emphatically denounces the Copperheads (without naming them) and anyone who supports the Confederacy. He writes in general of the Confederacy and its supporters, "Crafty as a fox, cruel as a tiger, they cried 'no coercion' while preparing to strike us." He adds, "I am amazed that any one could think of 'peace on any terms.' He who entertains the sentiment is fit only to be a slave; he who utters it at this time is, moreover, a traitor to his country, who deserves the scorn and contempt of all honorable men." Another brief letter by Rosencrans follows which was written on February 18, 1863 and sent to the Indiana legislature. Rosencrans again writes a pointed critique of the Confederates. An extract from his letter reads, "After witnessing the wholesale slander of us, their perfidy and treachery toward the masses of their own people, and the unfair and dishonorable means to which they resort to gain an advantage, we have been forced to the immovable but sad conviction that the leaders of this rebellion are perfidious, treacherous, unscrupulous, and cruel--their leaders never will nor can be peaceable, or true friends and neighbors. And that, as Mr. Davis has said, they only want the power, not the will, to invade and subjugate us." A third letter by Rosencrans is printed in which he further conveys his conviction to see the War through and protect the United States Constitution. Lastly, a patriotic poem titled, "The Oath," is presented which was originally read by T. Buchanan Read at a recent Union celebration.…