Scope and Contents George Price writes in response to Abraham's recent letter to his uncle (George's father) requesting news about the family. He provides a list of his siblings' names, along with their marital status, number of children, and whether or not they are serving in the Union army. George concludes the letter with his views on President Lincoln, the family's political leanings, and the war effort: "Your Name is Abraham I humbly trust it is not for Honest Abe if it is dont write to me for I hate Him...

Scope and Contents Writing his cousin to assure him the family is well, Ambrose also puts forth his views on President Lincoln, emancipation, and the prospect of a draft: "there is some talk of a draft down here," he writes, declaring, "for my part they may go to the devel for what i care i never will go to war to free the dalmed roten niggers." He refers to "Old Abe" and his "thrice beautiful hell born scheme of emancipation" and wishes that "our beloved [Stephen] Dougles were now a live." He inquires as to...

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Writing his cousin, Ambrose again rails against "old ABE" and rumors of another draft. He describes his distaste for the current government and African Americans in the most emphatic terms.

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Ambrose declares to his cousin once more, "sir I am a Copperhead and a Real yellow one and i hope to god that I will live and di one." He writes again that they expect a draft soon, and continues to profess deep distaste for Lincoln and sympathy for Democrats, lamenting that the "Abolitionists run down [George] McClelland" because "you see he is A Democrat that is the reason that he is Run down." He also wants to know from Abraham "what the people thinks of him [McClellan] in Ohio."

Scope and Contents This brief, unsigned letter is notable for its description of Confederate troops near the area, less than two weeks before the battle of Gettysburg. The author (likely Ambrose Price) writes, "Thare is great excitement now in our valley and in our whole town . . . the rebels is in chambersberg they ar about 12 miles from us and . . . they ar taken all the men and horses they can," along with "all the niggers they can get." Until now, Ambrose has said "i would never go to war but [now he...

Scope and Contents After giving an account of last year's harvest and the current crop, George Price launches into his views about the war. He blames "the stubbornness of Northern Abolitionists" for the failure to compromise with a willing South, writing they "defeated the wishes of the conservatives in both sections of the country." George had, at first, planned to enlist alongside his brother, Joseph; but that was "before the Negro Proclamation was issued When I thought as most people did that it was a war...

Scope and Contents After previously vowing not to enlist, Ambrose Price writes to let his cousin know that he has, in fact, "joined old Abes army for six months[.] i would not have joined but i was out of work at home and i thought i would go to the army as i can make more money here[.]" His views about the war effort, however, have not changed: "i dont intend to fight if they take me in to battle[.] it is not that i am a coward but still i wont fight for the niggers[.]" Though he has not yet seen combat,...

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Writing again from the hospital in Harrisburg, Ambrose Price updates his cousin that he is well, but weak. He notes that "the election went of here last week [and] the Abolitionists bet they got theyer old abolitionist curtain elected again," before turning to an update on his parents' health. The reference is to Republican governor Andrew Gregg Curtin, who won a second term in the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election that took place on 13 October 1863.

Scope and Contents George Price is keen to discuss the recent defeat of Clement Vallandigham, a prominent Copperhead and anti-war Democrat, in the Ohio gubernatorial race: "Vallanaigham is beaten by a large majority but we all know it was not done fairly a great portion of the majority being made up by importing votes[.]" He continues to disparage Lincoln and African Americans, while holding out hope that "fortunes wheel may yet turn Democracy on top and then let them look out and clear the track for the...

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Ambrose Price writes he had expected his brother Silvester to visit him in Harrisburg, but neither he nor his sister have heard from him "since he left home [to join the army.]" Ambrose continues his tirades against Lincoln and African Americans, supposing the war will never end "as [l]ong a[s] that lopeared lantern jawed ol nigger freer is in office[.]" He again claims he will not "spill a drop of my Copperhead blood for the sake of the lousy niggers[.]"

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Ambrose Price writes a brief letter to update his cousin on his condition. He mentions he still has not heard news of his brother Silvester's whereabouts, though he suspects he is "at carlisle [Pennsylvania] for that is where the drafted men ar[e.]"

Scope and Contents George Price relays news that his brother Joseph's regiment has been decimated by both battle and disease. He laments that if he is drafted, he will go, "but damned if I take an oath to support Abe Lincoln or any other Tyrant[.]" He guesses he "would do as good service with Jeffs boys as anywhere else and know I would like the company better[.]" George also provides his assessment of national and state politics. He acknowledges Democrats' recent defeats, but believes that "if the convention...

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Writing from Charlestown, Ambrose informs Abraham that upon leaving the hosptial in Harrisburg last month, "i was sent to baltimore and i laid in convalescent camp three weeks," before being sent to Harpers Ferry and then to Charlestown. At this time, Ambrose is still attached to headquarters of the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry.

Scope and Contents George Price writes that his brother "Joe" requested some of his cousins' addresses (Abraham does indeed begin to receive letters from Joseph Price in early 1864). He returns to the topic of the upcoming national election, and goes on to reveal the extent of his anti-abolitionist sentiments: "It dont do me any good to hear of the Butternuts being thrashed in fact I feel better when the Rebs get the upper hand[.] if the Infernal Abolitionists were all in the Army it would do me good to hear...

Scope and Contents Joseph Price writes to Abraham for the first time. Encamped at Whiteside, Tennessee, he provides a detailed account of his life and travels since enslisting as a member of Co. F of the 84th Illinois Infantry in August 1862, including time "with Buell on his disastrous march through Kentucky[.]" Joseph and his company were "at Perryville under fire though not engaged", and then marched toward the Cumberland Gap before turning again toward Nashville, where they arrived in December 1862. Price...

Scope and Contents In a lengthy letter, Joseph Price again describes the activities of his regiment in great detail. He reveals he joined the Army to help preserve the Union, but now finds himself fighting for a cause in which he does not believe: "When I first enlited in the Army I firmly believed that it was my duty to go and help sustain the dear Old Flag[,]" and that "I was doing right[,] although Father told me at the time that it would eventually turn out to be a War for the Freedom of the Negro but I...

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Ambrose Price writes from Amberson Valley, home after seven months in the army. In this brief letter, he informs Abraham that the family has heard from Silvester, who is in Culpeper, Viriginia.

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Joseph Price updates his cousin on the status of his regiment, including camp life, the diseases they face, and their expected movements.

Scope and Contents Mary Price informs Abraham that her brother Ambrose has "gone back to the army" not to fight, but "to make money[.]" She writes that he was last in Louisville, but she is not sure of his current location. Silvester, meanwhile, was "well and safe" in May in North Carolina. Mary expresses dismay about the ongoing war and the prosepct of yet another draft: "I wish this cursed war was over for if they keep on they will not leave a man[.] the draft has come of her and it has took a good many of...

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George Price tells Abraham about their struggles to obtain new farming machinery, as well as the latest prices for wheat, oats, and corn. He goes on to write that "it will be our turn next not only to grow good corn but I hope to grow a Democratic President[.]" He hopes the tide is turning in the war, as "Abolitionism men who have been exterminationists" begin to realize that "the southern people cannot be subjugated[.]"

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After an account of the harvest and current prices of land and goods, George Price provides details about the expected upcoming draft. He discusses the numbers of draftees needed to meet the quotas for his county, Fulton, and his township, Eldorado, and mentions that "there was a talk of raising money to buy substitutes[.]" George claims that "if I should be drafted I wont report myself[.] if they come after me I will go but damn the fight they will ever get out of me[.]"

Scope and Contents George Price informs Abraham that he was one of 20 men drafted from his township, but his father "got one [a substitute] in my place for 900$ a Veteran Soldier[.] I would rather have went at the time but am very well satisfied at home[.]" He writes that substitutes generally cost between $700 and $1,000, and describes how "a club was organized before the Draft to raise money to buy substitutes [and] several thousand were raised[.]" He lists the names of the other men drafted, followed by the...

Scope and Contents George Price writes about another "coming draft . . . this time the draft is much heavier than before and Eldorado has to bear its share and I think a little more[.]" The quota for the township is now at 31, he writes, and people voted to tax themselves to raise money to hire volunteers, before another man "offered to get Volunteers to fill our quota at $500 for each man[.] the offer was accepted $6500 were raised at a special meeting called for that purpose[.]" At the time of writing, 25 of...

Scope and Contents Mary Price writes that the draft has returned to Amberson Valley. Soldiers are "taking up deserters and Bounty Jumpers they have taken some and are after more[.]" Still, she tells Abraham that if he is drafted (in Ohio), he should "just come down here and not go as you are a single man you can run about from place to place which a married man cannot[.]" Mary goes on to say the family has heard from Silvester, but not from Ambrose. They fear for Ambrose's safety, "for thare is a report that...

Scope and Contents Joseph Price recounts his regiment's route from Huntsville, Alabama, through Knoxville, Tennessee, to the banks of the Holston River at Strawberry Plains, 16 miles north of Knoxville, where his regiment has been camped for seven days. He relays several stories heard in the camp: "one is that Jeff Davis has abdicated and Lee is Dictator[.] another is that Lee is coming this way having abandoned Richmond to the Kangaroos[.] it is also reported that Sheridan is whipped but it is not...

Scope and Contents George Price writes that his brother, Joseph, has been at home for over a week, and plans to stay until 25 April. He then turns to the fall of Richmond, which he believes "will not end the Rebellion and I hope to God if the powers at Washington still persist in a prosectuion of the war and in this determination to hang the Rebel heads that they will fiercely dispute every inch of ground and make every sod a soldiers sepulchere before submitting to such ignominy[.]" He continues to rail...

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Mary Price writes with news that her brother, Ambrose, has died: "he was killed at Silver Creek North Carolina while in a Scrimmag and while in the act of running from one tree to another he was shot through the heart[.]" She writes that Ambrose was killed on 14 March, his nineteenth birthday. (Other sources say 16 March). In addition, the family has not heard from Silvester in more than a month, though they heard a report that he had been wounded in New York.

Scope and Contents Writing from near Nashivlle, Joseph Price reports that he arrived at camp on 27 April, and he does not know where he will go next, as "there is no more rebels to fight" and "the Confederacy has been playing out very fast for the last 8 weeks[.]" He suspects he and his fellow soldiers will soon go home. Joseph also addresses the assassination of President Lincoln at length, revealing complicated feelings toward a man with whom he disagreed on politics, but respected as a democratically...

Scope and Contents Writing from Camp Harker in Tennessee, Joseph Price wonders if his regiment may yet go to Texas, where the papers report "that Kirby Smith is still fool enough to continue to fight for the ghost of the Confederacy[.]" He mourns the lives lost in the war, including in his own family: "I have had at least 5 Cousins and 1 Brother who have perished either in Battle or in the Hospital[.]" He mentions hearing of the death of Ambrose Price, specifically, and writes that "he then is another victim...

Scope and Contents George Price writes to Abraham after not hearing from his cousin since the spring, and wonders whether "you have all pigged out or turned abolitionists and dont wish to correspond with copperhead Cousins." He mentions that his brother Joseph returned home on 19 June, and expresses uncertainty about his political beliefs: "Joe," he writes, "is sound as a buck physically but I dont know how his pulse beats Politically[.] I guess maybe Hed vote the Democratic ticket says he is a Democrat I know...