Ara Fraizer, Owen County, Indiana

Note: The original letter is written with extra spaces in place of periods. The text below adds periods but otherwise retains Fraizer's spelling and punctuation.

May 16, 1863

To Abner and Rachel Fraizer [Ara's parents]

It is with pleasure that I can say that I am ingoying better health than when I last wrote to you. I hope when these few lines comes to hand they may find you all in good health and engoying Divine blessings to the fullest extent. As I havent much to write I will say a few words on the negro subject. My views is this. It is the policy of the administration at present to arm and equip all negroes who are willing and fit for the service, and put them into the United States army. The Adgutant General of the United States is here now raising all the negro companies and regments he can, & I tell you, they dont come in slow, for he has raised five regments already, he has not been with us over two weeks, he has full power to grant commissions to white men as officers over them. All those negroes who do not go in the army, are to be put upon the plantation of their masters who have gone into the rebel army, their to gain support for themselves and families, and see how it will seem to breathe free air awhile, & be masters instead of slaves ---

Now no doubt, some of our copperhead frends almost swoon over such an abolition doctrine, and think it an unpardonable sin both personally & nationly, but I can endorse the whole plan, & with my hand upon my hart, say with strong emphasis --- Amen! I can stand it very well to have the negroes take the place & proerpty of their secesh masers & take their muskets & shoot them (if need be) for I certainly think more of a good union Negro than of any white traitor, be he whom he may. I want to say a word or two, in as kind a maner as I can to some of those tender toed gentleman who are willing to stand still & for the sake of political strife, cry out at the top of their voices, stop the war! Grant an armistice; never free the negroes – it is unconstitutional --- it is not Democratic; it is a negro abolition war! Now my opinion is that all this hue & cry is to try & discourage us, & to cause as many to desert as possible & as we are about to drive the rebels to their last hole, it is to give them time to fortify against us.

I want it distincly understood that I am for putting down this abominable rebellion, let it cost what it may; for I consider that I, with thousands of others, have left home, frends, & relations & everything that makes life Comfortable -- & not only that, but periled our lives – for the sole purpose of putting down the rebellion & to maintain this Government, the best that the world ever knew; and I know that it is not to gain political power or a great name or to get the Greenbacks . . . but it is to fight for the Union negro or no negro, I will tell you that we are not fighting in vain, for we are as sure to make the rebels get on their knees to ask our pardon, as that their are fish in the ocean or fowels in the air.

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Fraizer, weakened by disease, was later discharged from the army. He returned home, married in 1866, and died at age 32, shortly after the birth of his fourth child.