W. F. Nelson to Richard Yates

Cincinnati O. Aug 10

D Sir

By the crushing

out of this rebellion

I am now honorably

discharged from the U.S.

Service I came how-

ever very near having my

life "crushed out" last

winter being run over

and trodden upon by

a horse whose sharp

[frontic?] Shoe Struck my face

tearing off the whole up-

per face--nose as break-

ing the nose palate and

roof of my mouth--so

that I can never resume

the duties of a pastor al-

though I have preached

three times a Sabbath

since I was hurt and two

of those times to regiments

in the open air

Having been injured while

in the Service of the U.S.

I am [of???] by all my

friends that I have a claim

to the Consideration of the

Govt.--under the joint res-

olution of the late Congress

to Employ such persons in

preference to others.

It is therefore my desire

to go to Washington and

make application for Employ-

ment--Either as reguler

Chaplain (the duties of

which office I can still

perform) or some other

office which may present

remunerative prospect

as my family is still de-

pendent upon my labor for

their subsistence.

As you Sir was kind enough to use your in-

fluence in obtaining my

appointment as chaplein

cannot you still exert

that influence in promot-

ing my present design

and to doing [Corefer?] a

lasting favor and lay

under great obligations

of gratitude one who

subscribes himself

with sincere Esteem

Hon R. Yates Your obt Servant

U.S. Sen. frm Ill. W. F. Nelson

P. S. Though my goods are many

of them Still [Stored?] at Jackson-

ville Ill. I am staying for

the present at this city.

I enclose this Certificate

which please sign and return

and if it would not be too

much trouble If you

Could write also a com

mendatory note it would

probably go much farther

than your name [appeared?]

to the accompanying Document

Yours O W. F. N.

Sent him

endorsement

as requested

Aug 15 1865