Morton S. McAtee to Richard Yates

With Memorial signed by Randolph Co. citizens 8/23/64

Chester, Randolph Co. Ills;

August 23d 1864.

Governor Richard Yates;

Sir; The enclosed memorial, signed by the leading Citizens (loyal) of this place, was to have been delivered to you by Col. F. Swanwick who will have communicated the substance of its contents probably before this reaches you. It was not however completed when the St Louis Packet arrived and the urgency of the case justified his going at once - the memorial to be forwarded as soon afterwards as possible, It is not numerously signed for the reason that it is obviously best to keep the proposed movement as secret as possible until your decision in the matter is made known.

I will state further that within the three weeks I have privately communicated with leading men of the different Leagues in the County in reference to the organization of the loyal men of each precinct and they have all eagerly adopted my views and urged the immediate carrying out of the plan.

Sincerely hoping that it may seem best to you to grant our request I remain

Very respectfully

Your obedient Servant,

Morton S McAtee

McAltee Morton L

Chester Aug 23d, 64

Encloses a memorial and introduces Col Swanwick