Lambert Nowland to Richard Yates

Sandoval Marion Co Ills

May 4, 1861.

To His Excellency

Richard Yates

Respected Sir

I have a great desire to Serve my Country & government in any position that I may be placed, owing to my Size I am debarred from Military Companies being but 5 ft 3 1/2 in. my age is 44. I am not afraid to venture any where within the borders of the Rebel States, am about to take a trip into Ky. I would feel highly honored to go in behalf of Ills my adopted state as for the U.S. government in the capacity of a 'spy' & forward all information that might be needed, to you, or to the Genl Government or to the Commander of the U.S. forces at Cairo. My family are at present on a visit to Ohio. all I ask is for my travelling expenses to be paid & some little for my family. for my services I ask nothing. I can produce the most satisfactory proofs & vouchers from the leading men here of all parties as to my honesty & strong unswerving attachment to the Union under

any & all circumstances, I want to be doing something & consider it a duty I owe to my country. I run fifty times the [risk?] of the common soldier---but am willing to abide the Consequences. now sir if you or the U.S. Government have any use for me---or the commanding officer at Cairo---let me know immediately & I am on hand ready to be ordered any where---even to Montgomery, Charleston Mobile or New Orleans & if I am killed all I ask is for the government to protect my family. I leave here for Eckmanville Adams Co Ohio to morrow night. will be there for 4 or 5 days on a visit to my family. from there I go to Maysville Mason Co Ky and will be there 2 days should my services be needed a letter directed to me there will meet with prompt attention. I ask not you any secrets of the government. all I want is to do something & give any & all information that I possibly can, will be back here in ten days. I have lived in this state going on 5 years. Can give you the most satisfactory references in Ohio, particularly Cinti also in Phila Correct information just now from 'Memphis' Paducah, Columbus Ky New Madrid Mo Nashville, Ten & other points it

seems to me would be of great benefit to the Commanding Officer at Cairo. give me a trial & you will soon be able to discover whether I am of any use or not. I hold myself in readiness at any & all times.

We have a 'few' 'soft' Union men & a few who if they had the least show would be Secessionist. they need watching & I firmly believe that they have corresponded with the Secession Journal of St Louis

I have taken particular pains to send the 'Treason bill' to some of them as it passed the Legislature---and so help me I intend to keep my eyes on them.

Yours Respectfully

Lambert Nowland

refer here to

Wm Edwards

B. Pilkington

A. H. Frew

A Mottram

Judge I. N. Haynie - Cairo

Dr. D. K. Green - Salem

address for the next 5 or 6 days

L. Nowland

Eckmanville

Adams Co Ohio

Via Cinti

Lambert Nowland

For appt as "spy"

Ansd