Rachel Attwood Affadavit

State of Illinois

County of Sangamon SS.

City of Springfield

Rachel Atwood being first duly sworn deposes and says that she is the mother of Marion W. Berry whose father is dead, the name of the present husband of deponent being George S. Atwood. That the said son of deponent, Marion W. Berry was born on the 17th day of February A. D. 1849 and is consequently only of the age of Fifteen years at the present time. Deponent further states that her said Son is now in the military service of the United States as a private in Company D of the 33rd Regiment of Illinois Volunteers; that at the time of his enlistment he was living with deponent as his home, having no other home, being without a guardian and having no other person to care for him than this deponent. Further that she is a resident of the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, and resided there at the time of the enlistment of her said Son which occurred on the 27th of March A. D. 1864. At that time the said Marion W. Berry ran away from his said home

and from deponent, and enlisted in the Military service of the United States. And Deponent expressly declares that such enlistment was made wholly without her Knowledge, without her consent and directly contrary to her wishes often previously expressed to her said son; that she never did and never has consented to his said enlistment; that she has refrained from making any application for his discharge until the present time hoping that his health and strength would be such as to enable him to perform with safety to himself and benefit to his county the duties of a soldier in the army; that she has been informed and well believes that for several months past her said son has been sick, unable to perform any duty and likely to die at any time, being a useless burden to the service. She therefore makes this application for his discharge on the ground of his extreme youth, his enlistment without her consent, and contrary to her expressed wishes, and hopes that the secretary of War in the decision of this case may conclude to free the service of a useless

burden and at the same time relieve the feelings of a mother

Rachel X Atwood [her mark]

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 11th day of October AD 1864

E. L. Gross Notary Public

Mrs. Rachael Atwood, Blueville Ills, Oct 11 64

Affadavit of the condition of her son who is in the army - wants him discharged

Ex. Office, Springfld Ills, Oct 12th 64

Respectfully forwarded to Hon E. M. Stanton Sec. of War with urgent request that within named soldier be discharged as requested

Richd Yates, Governor I. 916 Oct. 17"/64 Adjt Genl.

Ret cir 158

11am 127-1864 Springfield Ills. Feb. 11th 64

Illinois, State of Richd Yates. Governor

W. Forwds application of Mrs. Rachel Atwood for the discharge of her son Marion W. Berry a minor in Co. D. 33d Ills. Vols. with the requests that the application be granted.

Informed Party Oct 26 64 [Rrted?]

Rec'd A. G. O. Oct. 18th/64