George L. Nichols to Richard Yates

March the 25th, 1864

U.S. General Hospital Section 3 Ward 4

Madison Indiana

Govenor Yates sir I beg leave leave to write you a few lines this morning concerning my situation I am as you will learn a private of company B. 115 Illinois vols I was wounded at the battle of Chicamauga September the 20. 63 by a musket ball through my left leg just below the knee joint producing stiffness of the knee and was taken prisoner and paroled I have been in the Hospitals since that time and sent from place to place so I have nine months pay coming to me the last day of this month I am a poor man and have a family to

maintain and every thing is high and how can I support them if I dont get my pay I have been pronounced by the surgeons to be totally unfit for the service any more & would have been discharged long ago had I not been paroled if I am exchanged please have me discharged and sent home to my family and if not please let me go home and stay till exchanged so I can be discharged I would gladly pay my way home and board my self rather than stay here for this is a hard place for a poor crippled soldier I now appeal to you as the soldiers friend to help me please answer this and if I am exchanged send send a request that I shall come before the board for a discharge and if not please

have it arranged so I can go home and stay till exchanged all my hopes for getting any pay before in May is in getting a discharge & if I dont get that I dont know what I am to do I am afraid my family will be bound to suffer and I cant help help it so no more at present but remains your humble servant

George L. Nichols

(to) Honorable Richard Yates

Govener of Illinois

P.S. please write as soon as you receive this and oblige &c

Nichols, Geo L.

U S Genl Hospl

Madison, Ind.

Mar 25, 1864

Is a member of 115th Ills wounded at Chickamauga taken Pris. and parolled, his pay 9 mos in arrears, his family suffering. wants to get his pay or get home until exchanged & dischgd.

State of Illinois

Executive Depart

Springfield April 19, 1864

Respectfully referred to the Surgeon in Charge of U.S. Hospitals Madison Ind. with the request that the applicant be examined & discharged if found incompetent for active duty.

Francis A. Hoffmann

Lt Gov & acting Govr