James Berdan to Richard Yates

With Josiah Sawyer letter 5/18/63

Office of the

St. Louis, Jacksonville & Chicago

Rail Road.

Jacksonville, Ill., May 18th 1863.

Dear Sir:

Saml. P. Bailey Esq. of Pekin, who had gone to Kansas to collect money &c, has (through the malicious agency of his debtor or of some other person) been lately arrested at Leavenworth City on a charge of disloyalty and his grieved family at Pekin are desirous of effecting his liberation. A B Sawyer Esq (the son of our old friend of Fremont) lately married a daughter of Mr Bailey, and is now on his way to Kansas bearing with him numerous certificates of the loyalty of his father in law – and he would like to have such endorsement from you as you can consistently give – and which as he is utterly unknown in Kansas, would strengthen him much. I sincerely hope you can so assist him, and that you would procure for him an introduction to

Herndon or some other of our friends who may know Sam P Bailey.

Yours truly

Jas. Berdan

Gov Yates