An Interesting Letter found at Benton Barracks

Benton Barracks St. Louis Mo.
Jan. 15th 1864.

Friend Caverly:

Sir

Below is a letter that was picked up by a member of Co. H., 9th Iowa Cav. It will show the people of Clark, what a true Democrat is.

May 11th, 1863

Dear Brother:

I again seat myself to write you another letter to let you know that we are all well at this time except father; he is sick and has been for too or three days, he is better today than he has been. I hope this letter will find you in good health and enjoying all the fun you can have. I dont have any fun nowadays; I feel more like fighting than any thing els, for the damed abolitions is trying to put down the democeats, and have a good time with the sons of b-----s. They give the democrats the Name of butternuts; and it didnet make us mad, and they are beat bad Over it. we got Butternuts and made Breastpins out of them. and wore them, and it makes them awful mad They threaten to take the butternuts of our democrats and have tride it but have failed in the effort. I just dare any of the niggerheads to take one of ove me Ill be g-d d----d if they ever take of any more. Brother I want you to stick to the democrats as long as you live. John I wish to god that every durned abolitionist in the country wor in the hotest place in h-ll, for they are the very ones that caused this war, and wanted to carry it on till every man, woman and Child, in the south is killed and every nigger set free. the cursed preachers preach that very doctrine. I have qite going to meeting any more for there is no good a going, the devil is in the people and he will have to come out some way. the democrats wants the union as it was, and the constitution as it is, and the niggers with thare masters. Dear Brother you must not think strange of me writing such a letter to you; if you was here you would know all about it. Brother I want you lived and dye a democrat; you will remember one for they are all the Party that will save the government if the can have the power to do so. they have arrested several of the democrats, and put them in prison, but they have release them again, they arrested John Vaness, Decatur, you know him I have nat heard what they have done with him John we are going to have war here at home, I think it is not far of. I think our country is sore and awful bad fix now, and god only knows what is to happen next. I have said enough about the war. I will haftoo close; write swon if you please excuse bad writing and mistakes.

John you must not think Strange of me Swaring for I fell from grace long, ago, I never swore as much in my life till since the war commence, the bible says that david curse in his wrath and so curse I.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, January 23, 1864