The author of this letter has not been identified. His signature appears to read, “Wes Land” but I can find no one by that name, or similar name, in New Burlington, Indiana. Regardless of his identity, Wes provides his friend in the Iron Brigade some interesting news about the attempt to set up the draft in Indiana during the summer of 1863 and the resistance of the Copperheads.

Wes wrote the letter to his friend, William Harrison Campbell, a 23 year-old school teacher from Selma, Liberty Township, Delaware county, Indiana. Will enlisted in Co. K, 19th Indiana Infantry on 29 July 1861 as a first sergeant and was promoted to 2nd, then 1st Lieutenant during the war. The 19th Indiana was, of course, part of the famed Iron Brigade or “Black Hat” Brigade. He was discharged for medical disability in October 1863 on account of the wound he received at Gettysburg in his right hand.

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New Burlington, Indiana
June 18th 1863

Friend Will,

I will have to beg pardon in the start for tardiness. I would have written sooner but I have been away from home for the last two weeks on a fishing excursion and had no opportunity of writing while away. But I take the first chance on returning. The fact is, Will, my list of correspondents has been mournfully small since living in this place; in fact, it has been so long since I attempted to write a letter that I have almost forgotten how. And you know how hard it is for a fellow to begin writing after “forgetting how.” However, I know that I am writing to a friend and not to a critic and will risk it.

The all engrossing topic at present is the draft and the action of the “Butternuts” on it. This State is now being enrolled and in some sections the enrolling officers have been mobbed and some have been killed. In Fillmore—a little town in Putnam county—the house of the enrolling officer was surrounded by an armed mob of Butternuts who fired on the house killing one man who was visiting the family and doing some other damage to a considerable extent. I have not seen any notice of any of the party being arrested yet. And that was within thirty miles of Indianapolis on the railroad where they can run troops in an hour. In fact, under the very noses of the authorities, and if they are thus bold there, what may we expect from the rural districts such as Blackford and Jay counties?

I hope to God that the State Authorities will go to work in real earnest and hang every devil of them that attempts to resist the draft. The only trouble would be that their putrid carcasses might breed contagion and it might not be so well for the living.

What do you think of the way the Government used Vallandigham? Don’t you think it would have been better to have shot him? And what do you think of the “Copperheads” of Ohio nominating him for Governor? “Heavy,” isn’t it?

I can give you no news from Selma but Smithfield is about the same as ever—very little change. I am still studying H___ at this place and intend continuing here until the draft goes off and then I think you may look for me in the ranks of the Old 19th. Will you take me in? Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain your friend, — Wes Land