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Bloomington Ill.

March 22^nd 1863

 

Liet. O. Barnard

 

Dear Friend

I concluded to write you a few lines in regard to Henry we rec^d a letter from him yesterday he was at Springfield and expected to join the Regmt. in a few days. He has not rec^d any letters from us for near three months but I expect there are letters for him with Capt. Burch which he will get when he joins the 94^th again. If there are no letters with the Regmt. for Henry tell him it is some Postmasters fault for we have sent some five or six since January. We have had awful bad weather / since you left here rain and mud have been the order of the day with the exception of two weeks this month. The ground got in good order for farming operations and several have been sowing wheat. Our equinoctial storm commenced last week and we have had very bad weather for a few days past The Copperheads tried to have a great demonstration week before last but it was a grand jizzle. The speakers were that comtemtible puppy Jim Euing and Dr. Rogers. The boys at their meeting at night groaned and hissed them out of countenance The Copperheads of our town are making every exertion to carry the election this spring. They held a convention yesterday to / nominate Officers. That notorious Secesh Al. Benjamin presided. As yet I have not heard of all their nominations they nominated John Sander for Town Supervisor West Hill for constable Benjamin for Overseer of poor. I am afraid they will carry the election as nearly all that went to war from Dale are Republicans we are going to give them the best sight we can and I hope will wipe them out In fact I would like to see those infernal Copperheads cleaned off from the face of the earth. I do not consider that they are fit to live and enjoy the privileges of great and free people. They ought to banished to Africa and be compelled to live under some / petty king in Dahomey

 

I think these copperheads are the meanest set of men that God ever allowed to live upon the face of the earth. While our brave sons Brothers and Friends are away fighting to sustain the Government they are at home doing all they can against it. I think us hard union men [?] left at home yet to wipe them out. If we gain a victory at Vicksburg I have no doubt but it would cool them down below zero. We are all well. Mrs Borned is well Health generally good Give my respects to your Brothers and believe me truly your Friend

                                                                                   

Wm Vandervort

 

Liet. O. Barnard

 

P.S. Please excuse what I have said about the copperheads but I wish to the Lord they was all dead                                                                                    

W. V

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