James Cleland, an Ohio “Copperhead” reports on anti-Negro riots in Detroit and Cleveland:

“Brother John,

                   … I am sorry to hear of so many of your boys dieing off … But so it goes some of the Republican speakers in the north tell us if it is necessary to sacrifice this whole generation in order that the next generation may be a better one why do it and I guess they are doing what they can to do it. There is going to be a meeting of democrats at Hamilton this state the 20^th of this month to consider some maters there is two men appointed from each state to go Valindigham and Olds goes from our state some are going from this county just to see what will be done something must be done or we will have to bow to the tyrant yet you would be surprised I suppose if I would tell you everything that is going on just now in the north revolvers are all the go now Republicans are holding secret meetings and arming themselves democrats hold no secret meetings but they have the thunder in their pockets if it is necessary to use it. They had a terrible row at Detroit a few days ago a negro abused a white girl, that raised a mob of about three or four thousand people and they drove every negro out of town and burnt their houses (about thirty two in number) there was two companys of infantry there but they were broke down and run over I heard there was another in Cleavelin I have not heard the particulars yet … Gen. Rosecrans has forbid the Cin Enquirer and the Chicago Times circulating in the army of the Cumberland, there has been orders issued forbidding any paper circulating in the army of the Potomac. That army has about gon up nothing more need be looked for from it, the rebels will be concentrated in the west and you may all be drove a cross the Ohio yet I believe it is the plan of the Administration to make a pretext for enforcing the conscription…” [sic]

           John Cleland rose from Corporal to 1^st Lieutenant in the 111^th Ohio Infantry, which began service in Kentucky in September 1862. The regiment saw service in many battles in Tennessee and Georgia.