Sarah Somerville to Richard Yates

Centralia Ill October 25 1863

mr. guvner yates

I drop a few lins to see wheth you will do in thing with tha Coperhed at vandalia I thank vary strong that my husband had to ba kill bi them and then go when tha provost mrshal no som of them.

mr A S Somerville wos marshal ov the 11 distric Ill he wos sent out bi worant to git disert and he wos [hende?] bi his sadle girt and won wth man got bhind and in fiv mil of vandalia he saw a bout twenty fiv min stan in frunt ov a [coalhous?] and he sed that he thout

that he cod past he rod on and when he got up a gin them tha stop him and he stopt and ast them what tha want tha sed that tha wer a goint kill him all ov them shot at him and he sene that tha wor fr kill he shot at them tha brok his arm his har thro him and he la on the ground and cod not git up all Shot at him woud both hips and the man that was with him went to a hous to git him in and the man was not at home his wif let then fetch him in got him bout half way this man com home he sed he was he had bin to mill

mr Somerville and that young man sed he came home wokin thrw a feeld I think it that he was won that hel to shoot him tha took won revoler from him wher tha shot him and this man stold a [nwthe?] won and tha come up to the hous swr that if he sed won word that tha wod tak him out and hang him when I got up their nex morn I tak him to vandalia tha nit tha coperhed wotch the hows and I cant tell you how tha did cutup bi ridn for I cant rit veary good but I cod tell you if cod see you I hop that tha will git bunt a lve I seene some i coo stand and tor them

to deth I will git my satfition som day if in body wod I ant a fird to sho a man or too for that bill Smith wher tha caled him to seed that he wod hoo tha min was that scar that tha wod hang him he wod not tl me what tha names was I will clos miy leter

Mrs Sarah Somerville

File S -

Somerville Sarah

Centralia Oct 23 1863

Writes a letter, I suppose, over general information Wishes to know what the Governor is going to do with the Copperheads of Vandalia her husband has been outraged. "I can't see it" from the letter.

Executive Office Nov 3 1863.