Sarah E. Henshaw to Richard Yates, enclosure

Ottawa May 7th 1864

Hon Richard Yates -

Dear Sir --

The enclosed paper has been sent me for forwarding to you. I take the liberty of adding my prayers to that of the Battery Boys.

You see by this paper, that nearly the whole of the Battery come forward and entreat your powerful interposition in behalf of my husband whom they believe to be suffering injustice. I entreat it also.

What we beg is, that you will be so good as to write to Genl Schofield and request a Court Martial, or at least a Court of Investigation in the case.

In my husband's absence last winter on the Recruiting Service, his Lieutenants preferred charges against him. They were in a plot -- so the "boys" say -- were moved by the hope of promotion and so forth, and were instigated by one of their number who has long borne the reputation of an intriguer. They kept their plan secret from the men as long as they could. When the men found it out they were indignant - furious - raging. They almost took my husband in their arms on his arrival -- they threatened not to do duty if he was taken from them -- they would hold no dealing with the Lieutenants -- they proposed to mutiny and spend the rest of their time in a military prison. My husband calmed them assuring them that he should soon obtain a hearing, and disprove all injurious charges. But

to obtain a hearing is not so easy, for all these things move slowly, and this long delay is what they beg you to bring to a close, believing that you can.

The charges are nothing that my husband cannot readily and will not gladly meet, and if dismissal is not a pregone conclusion as I have known it to be in one or two cases of terrible injustice, I have no fear for the result. Not only the privates but his Superior Officers are satisfied that the effort arises from jealousy and other mean motives, and give him their warmest countenance and sympathy.

As to the Lieutenants they stand astonished at the storm they have raised about themselves, and now are anxious that my husband should rectify their little mistake. As to the chief instigator of the movement, he assures every one that he never heard of the charges and knew nothing about them. The wisdom with which they have managed may be judged from the fact that they told some of the men whom they thought their friends that they had to put in some heavy charges that they could not prove, in order to create an impression prejudicial to my husband. And their wives here, commenced by boasting that the Captain was to be degraded and their husbands elevated, and some of them even went so far as to plan a removal to Knoxville on that consummation.

O Govenor Yates! I [conjure?] you speak to Genl Schofield to settle up this matter - to give a hearing and fair play to an honorable man. I appeal to you - I place myself and the good name of my children under your protection. I was willing to give up my husband to fight and even to die if necessary for our Country - I was ready to do all myself that an American woman with revolutionary blood in her veins might do, but to bear this

never entered my imagination. You yourself have been assailed often enough to know how easy it is for malice to invent accusations. You know what my husbands Commanding Officers think of him, and have yourself corresponded with the War Department respecting his requested promotion. We here always felt so proud to belong to Illinois -- we have triumphed in her glory, and now we beg that her shield may cover us. Forgive the liberty I take in writing you- Grace Greenwood told me much of your kindness or I believe I should not have dared. I remain

Most Respectfully Yours

Sarah E. (Mrs E. C) Hinshaw.

To His Excellency, Richard. Yates.

Governor of the State of Illinois.

Respected Sir,

We the undersigned members of Henhaw's Battery, Independent Battery of Illinois Volunteers, do most respectfully represent that during the absence of our Captain Edward C. Henshaw, in discharge of his several duties, certain officers of this Battery for their own ends, have endeavored to injure him in the minds of his soldiers, and have preferred most unjust and groundless charges against him,

We therefore respectfully ask you Governor to see our Captain righted.

We have taken this liberty to address, you, because we know that you love the right. and because you are our Governor and we know you to be a true patriot and because you know the reasons why our Captain was absent at the time he was, and further because you know him and no doubt some of us. and therefore Governor we look to you, to have our Captain put right. for he is the man and the only man that we want to command our Battery.

Dated, Henshaw's Battery, Ill. Vols. Loudon, Tenn, Apr. 27th/ 64.

Names

1. C T. Sutphen, Sergt.

2 A. B. Robinson "

3 J. P. Maxon, "

4 L. M. Keryn Sergt.

5 H. D. Dudley "

6 N. Smth Corpl,

7 Robert. Fulton. Corpl.

8 P. G. Beers "

9 Anson. Beers "

10 David. Batcheller "

11 Elijah. S. Holsted "

12 Patrick Dillon "

13 Vincent McKisson "

14 S. G. Reynolds "

15 Thomas Hickling Private

16 Isaac Gartman

17 James Morrison

18 Michael Doyle

19 Charles Washburn

20 Michael. Medley

21 Patrick Ryder.

22 L. Cox.

23 James Cox

24 Oscar Ayers

25 H. Strand

26 Thomas Harvey.

27 Allen Olmstead

28 Lewis. A. Linda

29 T. J. Overmier.

30 Wm Stanton

31 John Miller

32 James Cummins

33 Albert. H. West.

34 Alson. B. Nichols

35 H. H. Stafford.

36 Wm Brayman.

37 Oscar Savory.

38 Bradley Stevens

39 Lewis Capsell.

40 Daniel Lane.

41 John. W. Dunlap

42 Isaac. H. Ammons

43 John. M. Stafford

44 Thomas. O. Connor

45 M. Lineroad.

46 Charles Rich

47 Thos. Mowbry.

48 Robert Moore

49 Joseph Olmstead.

50 S. T. Lind.

51 W. Wallin.

52 Thos Gordon

53 Henry S. Merritt

54 H. Hiland

55 J. H. McKinney

56 Henry Deford.

57 L. Batcheller.

58 J. M. Southard

59 W W. Veach

60 Perry. A. Wilco

61 M J. Moore

62 Lee Fleming

63 William Dwyer

64 M. Dunnivan

65 Patrick Lawler

66. A. S. Fuller.

67 William Murphy.

68 Henry C. Howard.

69 Francis Vanthier

70 D. N. Adler

71 H. A. Conor.

72 Jones Glenn.

73 Emmons, C. Walker

74 Thomas. L. Hight

75 C. Dailey

76 Frank Leon.

77 John Seelye.

78 Duncan, K. Gondilock

79 John Hartnett.

80 Patrick Boyle.

81 John Waters.

82 Edgar Coffee

83 John Connor.

84 James Cillen

85 J. Wilson

86 H. C. Nichols

87 Darwin Clark

88 Thomas Blackall

89 Wallace Wilson

90 E. G. Stanford.

91 C. C. Massey.

92 Anton Schiph

93 D. Cothrin

94 Owen Clark

95 Martin Medley.

96 Albert Quandt.

97 Thomas Longan

98 L. D. Palmer

99 Barney McCoy

100 Charles Wells.

101 John Tool

102 A. E. King.

We certify at the request, of the above mentioned men, that we have signed their names, and this is a true copy of the original, and the copy is sent for obvious reasons.

C. F. Stephen, 1st Sergt

A. B. Robinson Segt

H. D. Dudley Sergt

L M Keryn Sergnt

Abstract these papers carefully

Henshaw Mrs E. C.

Ottawa May 7 1864.

Encloses a statement and petition from 102 members of Henshaws Battery representing that the officers of Battery for their own selfish ends have prepared charges against the Captain - Mrs H wishes the Gov to write to Genl Schofield and request a "Court of Inquiry" in the case - The charges are nothing that her husband cannot meet. says the Lieut who preferred charges is not prepared to prove them

Mrs H writes a good letter, and appeals to the Gov in behalf of her family --

Col. Loomis - Please prepare necessary papers -- & write her (over)

Personal and particular appeal to General Schofield to look into the Captains case and afford him opportunity to vindicate himself against charges &c &c May 17. 64. (by the Governor

Loomis

ADC