E. C. Watson to H. E. Payne

Rosiclare Ills.

Sept. 17. 1864

Genl. H. E. Payne

Springfield Ills

Sir, I hope you will pardon me for intruding this well meant note upon your notice. And sir did not feel that I was acting in the cause of humanity I would not thus trouble you upon this subject. The facts are simply these. on the 2d day of July - Jeremiah Ragan went to the house of one James Chancy abused said. Chancy 's family in a very rediculous manner. drew his pistol and attempted to shoot his (Chancy's) wife applying all kinds of ludicrous epithets

to her and was only prevented from carrying his atrocious designs "into Execution by the timely interference of a friend" Said Ragan on the same Evening & the next morning made threats against the life of James Chancy "On Sunday morning Chancy & Ragan meet where & when an altercation Ensued which resulted in Chancy shooting Ragan, He (Chancy) had a hearing before a "Copperhead" Court (viz. Judge Sloan) who refused to admit him to bail. He is now laying in jail ironed & pinioned to the floor under the surveilence of a Copperhead jailor who neglects to furnish him with half rations and fresh water but once in three days.

Chancy's loyalty is undoubted

"he has ever been a quiet and peaceable Citizen has a large family three sons in the Union Army - he has ever been a strong supporter of the Administration and the Government. On the the other hand Ragan was a pensioner upon the Government - from a slight wound received in the Early part of the rebelion, but notwithstanding this, all his associations were with the butternuts and those who delight most in abusing the Government, And after he worked himself out of the Army I have ever doubted his loyalty, nor does this doubt rest with me along.

Chancy's strongest, and I might almost say, his only persecutors are the butternuts.

Now Genl. what I am driving at is simply this, whether you could mete out the ends of justice both to Community and to Chancy by rescuing him from this "Copperheads Hell" or at least from the hands of this Copperhead "Cleak" and enlisting him in the army. I hope you will exercise some patience in hearing (through me) the history of this case and reply at your earliest convenience, and I am very Respectfully your

humble Serv't,

E. C. Watson Ex.

Lt. Co. B. 18th Ill. Infty

Refer to

A. C. Fuller

A. A. Genl.

I/w.12 (Disct of Ills) 1864.

Rosiclare Ill.

Sept. 17 1864

Watson E. C. Ex. Lt. Co. B. 18" Ill. Infty.

States that on the 2d of July Jeremiah Ragan entered the house of Jas. Chancy & abused his family - drew his pistol & threatened to shoot the wife of Chancy; also made threats against the life of Chancy And on the next morning they met & Ragan was shot. The Copperhead court (Judge Sloan) refused to admit Chancy to bail.

He is ironed & pinioned to the floor. and Cop. jailor refuses to furnish him with half ration & Fresh water but once in 3 days.

Also states that Chancy's loyalty is undoubted having three sons in the Union Army; & Ragan was a pensioner from a

(over)

Paine Genl

slight wound rec'd in the early part of the war. & that he has ever doubted his loyalty & this doubt does not rest with him alone.

Requests information as to whether he can be rescued from this "Copperhead Hell" & enlisted in the Army.

Hd. Qrs. Dist Illinois

Springfield, Sept 23.1864

Respectfully forwarded to his Excellency the Governor of Illinois

Halbert E. Paine

Brig Genl Commdg.

File

Headquarters District of Illinois,

Springfield, Ill. ________186___.