William Fox and others to Richard Yates

Hannibal Mo. Oct. 6th 1864

To his Excellency Gov. Yates of Illinois

Sir:--

We come to you as the Representatives of the Loyal people of North Missouri in order to obtain your Kind Offices and esteemed influence, to the end that we may obtain assistance in the form of troops from our Sister States.

It has been known for many months, that a formidable invasion of our State was organized and in Contemplation by Genl Sterling Price, and his allies in Missouri. Notwithstanding theses facts, our military affairs have been so managed as to find us unprepared to meet the emergency. This want of preparation has stripped North Mo. of nearly all of her troops being ordered South of the River to meet the advance of Genl Price.

This state of things leaves a few

[Oct 6 1864]

hundred untrained militia to contend against the fierce and ferocious bands of marauders under Wm. Anderson, Thrailkill, Todd, Davis Holtsclaw, Quantril, and others.

These bands compose about three thousand men broken up into squads of from forty to one hundred and fifty; and Capable of sudden concentrations as at Centralia, and Mexico--where our little forces have been almost annihilitated.

To meet this formidable enemy our Small militia force has to guard a number of towns and the H & St Ls R. R. the great thoroughfare to the West, upon which line of road one million of Government Stores are now in transit, to Fort Leavenworth, for the Army of the plains, now on half rations.

Our Union people are being murdered daily, and nightly their persons and families outraged by these bands in the most barbarous and inhumane manner.

The juvenile, aged and infirm are refugees at Military Posts, or in other states, so far as they have been able to escape.

A full discription of the horrors and sufferings of this people it is impossible to give; and and such is also the Condition of the people in the interior of South Missouri. In fact, South Missouri is almost depopulated; and without further assistance North Missouri must share the same fate within the next six weeks.

The broad and emphatic declaration of these bands, often repeated, in their midnight assaults, and fiendish attacks upon defenceless soldiers -- "that every man within our power shall either vote for McLellan, leave the State or die."

No election can be held in nine tenths of the State, next November, at which Union men Can vote, unless these bands are speedily driven out; and to do this, more troops are indispensible.

[Oct 6 1864]

Gov Stone of Iowa has ten thousand armed militia at home, well organized and drilled, as he informed us, and says to us, that he will send us assistance, if it shall be asked for:--We have endeavored to reach Genl Rosecrans, by telegraph and by Letter; but all to no purpose. And we are now informed that the General has gone to the field himself. Here duty Compells us to say that disappointed and ambitious Generals are dangerous men to trust. And we desire through you to apply to the War Department by telegraph, for an order calling upon Gov. Stone for 3,000 men. They can vote in Camp. If Abraham Lincoln is disposed to assist the Union men of Mo. now is the time, and this the hour. We have done all we can ,--after being drawn upon for three years, we have our last reliable man in the field, but alas! they are too few. Hoping that you may feel it your duty to come to our relief

[Oct 6 1864]

with your acknowledged influence and perfect knowledge of our situation, we extend to you the greatful acknowledgement of a plundered, suffering, and bleeding people.

Wm. S. Fox Chm Com'ter

A.L. Gilstrap Safety Macon Mo.

E. T. Wilson - Knox County

I. V. Pratt [Linn?] County

[illegible] [Hollady ?] Shelby county

and

Endosed by Resolutions at Hannibal--Macon and North of the Counties in North Mo. so far as heard from