Copperheads in Indiana

No. We’re not talking about snakes… Well not really…

The Republican Party was new on the scene at the outset of the War Between the States. The old guard was the Democratic Party. Do you remember that line in the song about, “Daddy was veteran and Southern Democrat. Well, they ought to get a rich man to vote like that.”

Many people who lived in what became the northern states or Union States did not support the new Republican Party and Abe Lincoln for a variety of reasons. They had family in the South and possibly business dealings that they feared would be interrupted by war and they ABSOLUTELY did not want war. They preferred talks and peaceful resolution to the disagreements that would soon lead to the largest loss of American life.

The Democratic Party was divided. There were those who wanted war to ensure that the United States of America stayed together and then there were the Peace Democrats who believed that war was uneccessary. In short order, the Republicans started calling the peace desiring Democrats Copperheads. They likened it to the dangers of the pit vipers known as Copperhead. They attempted confine them and silence them and keep them from promoting the ability of various states to seceed from the United States of America.

Copperhead snakes are common in southern parts of Indiana. The real irony in this name is that they are not aggressive snakes. Their bites are almost always defensive and result from an accidental encounter when the snake feels threatened or cornered.

These snakes are not typically aggressive and often rely on their camouflage to remain hidden. Those who were given this name took it in stride.

Instead of remaining camouflaged, the copperheads looked at the Liberty Head Large Cent piece, made of copper, with amazement. One side of the coin featured Lady Liberty as a sign. They actually cut the liberty head out of the coin and wore it with pride on

In Ohio, many copperheads were located near the Ohio River. In Indiana it is reported that copperheads were located deeper into the State. This is best evidenced by the Boggstown Resolution which we will discuss in another blog post.