A Union Girl

January 5, 1865, Island City Times

In the Yuletide spirit during the Civil War, comes a local Neenah girl imploring her local citizens to write to those local soldiers helping to save the Union.  At first glance, it is a nice Christmas gesture but then it becomes more about helping to save their moral souls.  While her motives are pure, I do not think that regular letters from Mother and Father might be enough to salve the weary constitution of the fighting solider and keep him "safe" from the "drunkenness and profanity of camp."   Nevertheless, take a moment to admire the flowery prose of this mid-19th century writer.  I'm sure she was a faithful sister and generous friend to her correspondents, despite her temperance leanings.