Peter Oliver Coho to Richard Yates

Feby 4, 1864. I recommend discharge of this man. Richd Yates Gov. of Ills

Cincinnati Ohio Jan 27th/64

Hon. Govenor Yates Gov. of Ill.

Dear Sir I would respectfully Submit a few questions to your Honor also ask of you a favor. hopeing that they may be respectively considered by you. first, I am one of a Family of Reffugees from Mos. being driven from our homes thrown out upon the mercies of a cold world pennyless. Since this unholy rebelion broke out bringing us down from a position whare we did not know what want for anything ment to our present position. Since then and about one year ago my own poor mother ("Died") which has been the means of breaking up all that we could call home. Scatering the family to the four winds of Heaven. again I myself have not been well enough for one year & 4 months to do a days work. yet have managed to live sometime amongst friends at another time in County poorhouses. hence being driven to the course I have taken imagining that this war would close in less than a year and these large bounties offered by the government also the countys offering another inducement by way of bounty to fill up their quotas of men,

these inducements was to strong for me in my straightened circumstances to resist, thinking that I perhaps would not have to serve more than a year I then would be able to help myself. I on the 15th of December did enlist in the 21st Ind Battery as Saddler went before the medical examiner for examination and by my missrepresenting my own health passed the examination after doing so on going home Dr. Hendricks who was appointed to distribute the one hundred Dollars to each man refused to give me mine on the ground that i would not pass on going to Indianapolis hence refuseed to give it to me the Lieutenant acertained how it was with me and I went to him an refused to go unless I got the Bounty. here in order to give you an Idea of my health I will tell you whats the matter on the 28th of last November one year ago I was taken with what Physicians called a Paryletic stroke congestion of the Brain an Epleptic fitt with what many others have vanerial Diseases all forming a combination the latter being the seat of trouble with the cause that produced the Effect to frequent coition or conexion with women these fitts one never has but three two of which I have had the last one on the morning of the 5th of January

while at breakfast of the same morning that the Lieutenant gave to me my Enlistment papers this case is like this after they refused to give to me the county Bounty the Lieutenant took the papers and wrote upon them thus. I surrendered these papers to Peter Oliver Coho Dec 30th he being unfit for the position assighned to him this I supposed cleared me entirely yet I did not like to give it up. went to Chicago and there Enlisted again in the Rail Road Regiment which was to be mounted infantry I enlisted there as a Saddler. there they arrested me as a deserter have had me since the 6th under arrest in Jails and guard houses at Chicago here and around on takeing me to Louisvill I determined that I had been in custody long enough. I did not feel as though I was a deserter while under arrest---now I suppose I would be considered as such (one fact more of my Disease Dr. N. S. Davis, of Chicago called it Epeleptic Paroxysms. & Paralysis. the Exposure to which I have been compelled to undergo convinced me I was not able to go through as I had thought I could hence my reason for leaving them as I considered that I had endured cold & Greybacks & hunger long enough

hence the favor I would ask of you which is this my father and his friends are above reproach Father being a minister of the M. E. Church and I wanting in fact needing to throw myself upon these charities not being able to take hold of hard work as once I could I therefore Pray you to grant and give me a discharge So that I may go back there for the truth of this statement I would refer you to parties in South Bend

Dr. Hendricks. Rev. Asa Coho Mr. Farnsworth Post Master and they can give you as many as you want. Sir be kind enough to make out an honorable discharge and forward it to South Bend Indiana in care of Rev Asa Coho my father Although not even he shall know anything of my whereabouts for sometime for if I can I am of for Canada no more hopeing you will act imediately I Subscribe myself

Your Most Obedient Servant

Peter

Peter Oliver Coho

South Bend

Ind

Hon Gov Yates

Springfield

Ill

Coho Peter O.

Cincinnati Ohio

Jany 21 1864.

Has suffered almost all the afflictions allotted to man. Writes a very long letter must be read to be appreciated. Wishes an honorable discharge sent to South Bend Ind.

Executive Office Feby 64