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With Strowder Cheek letter 3/10/64
Evansville Inda Mar 1st 1864
Governor Yates of Illinois
Dear Sir
The annexed letter is a true coppy of one I have just received of Mrs A.A. Cheek whose Husband is in the Army and has been for over 2 years, the letter will speak for its self -
New Liberty Jasper County Ills 14" Feb 1864
Dear Brother & Sister,
I Seat my Self this Evening to tell you how we are getting along. we are all well but George has been very Sick, but is now better. Well Strawd we are doing very well as for Clothes and food are concerned but oh! he Hell we live in we hardly dare say our lives are our own. Today Charlotte returned from Town 3 Copper heads, Eli Todd his Wife & Nice Streached themselves across the Road, and because She did not give all the Road, and go out round them, he drew his Revolver and run her about 60 yards. She was on Horseback. Horatio & I was just behind. Coming up he drew his Coat and wanted to whip Horatio who stuck to the poor Cowardly Traitors and he soon Cooled down and we passed on.
A large number of Copperheads Drill here every Saturday. This week they Came out
and told publicly that they were Drilling to fight for the South. About 30 Miles above here there are 800 enlisted to fight for the South. They say as soon as they can get all they can. they are going through Ills to kill Union Men and burn Property and fight their way through to the South
I look every night for my House to be Burned down over my Head, it is a general opinion that they are going to do Some Mischief The are taking the very Same Steps that Kentucky did, I am afraid to let my children go out of my Sight. They call us all sorts of Names, and we are obliged to take it.
They have Shot 3 Union Men here close to us. Our Provost Marshall is a Copperhead and wont try to get us any help, and in the Name of God what are we to do, Strawd I don't want you to come and Sacrifice your life, you have too many little ones to look after, but will you use your influence in trying to get us Some help, we must have help soon, or be run over by these Out-Laws, and perhaps Murdered, for they are nothing but a Sett of Murderers. I expect you are ready to Say why don't the Union Men put a Stop to it, well, there is not enough to undertake it, and no Arms to do it We have written to Gov Yates time and again
but it appears that he will not believe or don't care. I Some times think he is a Copperhead too. Hardly any one will believe what we have to put up with only those who come and See and hear for themselves.
Was it not for my little Home I would not Say Here no longer than I Could get to Olney. You may think I am excited and Scared but I am not. what I have told you is all true, and I have not told one third I told Some of them yesterday, if our Property has to Burn there would be coals enough left to kindle theirs with
If I have to live this way 3 months longer, I don't know whether I can stand it or not. If we could just have some Soldiers Sent in here the Union Men are ready to give as long as they have anything to eat. They (Copperheads) are afraid of Soldiers. Now don't read this and throw it aside, but send us help if you can. My love to you all write Soon. I don't expect to close my eyes tonight to sleep. it is now 11 P.M.
Mrs A.A. Cheek
Governor Yates this is a Tax Payer of your State a Soldier in the 98 Ills Regiment and a True Union Man, who has left his family at the call you made to Serve his Country, and he now looks to you for protection to his family in his abscence. While he is in the field for general protection will you be good enough to give his Family the Protection which the Circumstances Surrounding them (as portrayed in the accompanying letters Shows) would Seem to demand. if it is in your Power So to do.
I vouch for the Truth of the statement in the forgoing letters.
For a Knowledge of My Self I refer you to Hon O.P. Morton Gov of Ind
" Loz. Noble A.G. " "
Genl R. Dumont " "
I am a resident of Aurora Ind but at present am located in this City to which place you will please write: to me on the Subject and let me know if Relief can be afforded Them
I am Sir with respect Your Most Obedient Servant
Strowder Cheek
Cheek, Strowder
Evansville. Inda.
March 1. 1864.
Yours a copy of a letter written him by Mrs Cheek (whose husband is in the field and who Seems to be dreadfully alarmed at he doings of the Copperheads and claims the Govrs protection -