D. G. Hay to Richard Yates

Burnt Prairie Ills

Septr 2nd 1861

My Dear Sir

I should have advised you sooner in regard to the Cavalry Company but for your Proclamation that all Companies would be recd. which rendered it apparently unnecessary to report to you whether or not I would get a Company in readiness at the required time.

I went to work on receipt of your letter to get the Company together and would probably have succeeded had I not thought it necessary - owing to the shortness of the time to get in readiness - to join with some persons at Grayville and Phillipstown which produced dissatisfaction in my own neighbourhood and resulted

in my defeat by a small majority at the Election of Officers. The Grayville and Phillipstown men by voting more men that had no intention of going to the war than the majority against me carried all the offices & are indeavoring to make out the Company at Grayville but with what success I am not apprised. If I make another attempt it will not be untill after Wheat is sowed.

If the Grayville & Phillipstown party succeed they will have appropriated to their use about $10.00 of expense incured by me beside my time.

This however is about in keeping with my fortunes in political matters for I will venture to say & I am of opinion that it is believed by my neighbors

Sept 2 1861

that of the three persons in my immediate vicinity who have been the recipient of Federal favor viz. Turney, Limgor and Brown the labor and sacrifise given by all of them for Political purposes does not equal that of my own.

The fact is that while they were demanding money of the Republican Party for political use I was steadily footing whatever necessary expense - for the Cause - presented itself.

I have taken but little pains to present my claims for the official favor and in that little I have been met on one occasion by an insinuation that a plea of pecuniary necessity was fatal to an applicant for office under the present Administration.

Believing that such a heartless sentiment does not find a response

in your bosom I desire to say to you that Bankruptcy & a consequent want of the necessaries of life look me full in the face.

I have no reason to doubt but that if I had never had anything to do in political matters my situation in life would have been far different.

In the beginning of the year 1856 I had attained to a prosperous business at this place. I did not think of anything but affluence during the remainder of my days. At that time I began to distribute Republican Documents & the same was met by threats of destruction to my business, which only stimulated me to renewed exertion for the Rep. cause. Till finally giving up my business I threw my whole sole into the work making it my study & pursuit, and my acquaintance being tolerably extensive in

5th Sept 2 1861

this & adjoining counties I made it my study & duty to provide every person with good political reading matter who I thought was at all susceptible of embibing true principles and also the providing of speakers &c. &c.

The result has been that many persons of Democratic faith who were once my warmest friends are now my bitterest enemies and availing themselves of a little circumstance with regard to a fugitive slave (which I believe I explained to you once) they have attatched the odium of Abolitionism on me & having sought in every way to break me down thinking that thereby they could break down the Rep. Party in this vicinity have ruined my prospects for business pursuits in this vicinity.

You expressed to me while at Springfield in June last a purpose of giving me some position.

Some place in the Army where business qualifications & industry are necessary would suit me.

Anything you can do for me will be thankfully received and remembered.

Your sincere friend

D. G. Hay

His Exy. Gov. Yates.

D. G. Hay

for position