The following letter was written by Edwin “Frank” Foss (1846-1884), the son of Woodbury Marden Foss (1804-1869) and Eliza Foss (1811-1887) of Strafford, New Hampshire. He wrote the letter to his two older brothers, Amaziah Joshua Foss (1839-1863), and Lemuel Perkins Foss (1841-1871) who enlisted and served together in Co. F, 13th New Hampshire Infantry during the Civil War. Lemuel survived the war, but Amaziah received a severe wound in the right leg while fighting at Providence Church Road (Suffolk) on 3 May 1863. His wound required amputation of the limb and he died from loss of blood on 7 May.

Frank studied medicine, attending lectures at the University of Vermont and Dartmouth. He afterwards became a druggist.

Transcription

Strafford, New Hampshire
Sunday, April 12th 1863

Brother soldiers,

With pleasure I seat myself once more in old windy hall to write to you. I came home Friday and thus I am here and with the request of Father, undertake this note. I don’t know as I can think of much to write that will be interesting to you. You stated in your last letter to Father that you heard that the Draft was put over till July. As for the truth of such stories, none ought to vouch for there have been myriads of such stories told by the treason-sympathizing hunkers of the North, and go by the still more euphonic name of Copperheads which in my opinion is the more appropriate of the two, for they are the real serpent that has stung our Nation and are yet keeping the rebels rejoicing over their victories. Yet for all their lying and trying to scare people out of their common sense, their draft bugbear as well as other things did not carry this state Copperheaded.

Well, I was distributing votes for Gilmore at the last election where a Copperhead belonging to Bows Pond Church hailed me and began to correct me for my early deeds for thus doing, alluding to you for a proof that it was not right whereupon I directly told him that I would write to you to find out your opinion. Now I wish you to write me in your next letter what you think about the matter.—whether it was sin or not. Also by the request of said Copperhead, you will do me a great favor in giving your opinion on the Negro of which the Copperhead said you would curse to the lowest degree. I wish your opinion to see whether the said Copperhead was right or me concerning your opinion…

Well, Eldridge Foss was married to Emily Richardson. I understand that Amaziah is very anxious to know her name. She is as you doubtless know old. Richardson’s daughter that lives over to northwest—that great fat man, Well, I guess I must say a little more about the draft which is this—there will be no draft till more men are called for New Hampshire has furnished her number already. Yours, &c., — E. Frank Foss