H. G. Hand to Richard Yates

Office of City Clerk

Centralia Illinois

April 15th 1864

Hon Richard Yates

Governor & commander in Chief

Springfield Ills

Sir:

At a special meeting of the city Council of the City of Centralia on Tuesday evening April 5th AD 1864. The following Preamble and resolutions were adopted, viz:

Whereas, depredations have been committed upon the property of Loyal Citizens of this City of Centralia by Soldiers belonging to various Regiments returning home on furlough after having reinlisted, and by Veteran Regiments passing through the city by Railroad which are unbecoming the well disiplined soldier, The injury falling upon the soldiers friend as well as the Southern sympathizers. Therefore be it -

Resolved by the City Council of the City of Centralia that we recommend to Gov Yates that a squad of men be stationed at Centralia for the protection of our Citizens against such depredations, as well as against the dangers of Southern Spies who we believe frequent our City.

Resolved that in the opinion of this Council the Head Quarters of the Provost Marshall for the 11th District should be located at Centralia this being the only point in said 11th District at which Veteran Regiments rendezvous. That thereby the depredations complained of would be prevented.

Resolved that while we most heartily endorse the conduct of the Illinois soldiers and those of all the Federal Armies of the Nation upon the battle

field, and their efforts while at home to crush the rebellion and the Southern sympathy to be found in some of our Northern Citizens, yet we must condemn depredations by isolated individuals in the military service, upon the property of loyal men in Illinois or elsewhere,

Resolved that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by the city clerk to his Excellency Gov Richard Yates, and also to Colonel Oakes Provost Marshall of the State of Illinois.

Resolved that these Resolutions be [spread?] upon the Records of the City of Centralia -

I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the resolutions. adopted as above stated

H. G. Hand

City Clerk

Hand, H.G.

City Clerk

Centralia. Ills

April 15. 1864.

Transmits a Series of Resolutions adopted by the City Council of Centralia, requesting that a guard be Stationed there to prevent the damage indiscriminately inflicted by the Soldiery in transitu, and that the office of the Provt Marshl be there established -