William R. Wilkinson to Richard Yates

Friendsville Ills June 6th 1861

To His Excellency

Governor Yates

My young friend Leiut Litherland who sent out to Anna under Capt Besore has addressed you a letter giving your Excellency a detail account of the breaking up of the light infantry company sent from this (Wabash) County.

Mr Litherland is a very reliable young man and a devoted Union Man and a staunch Republican. and it was very unfortunate for him and for the credit of our County the Besore should have had any thing to do with organizing a Company. he Besore was Elected Captain very unexpectedly. there were three candidates for captain two Republicans and one democrat. Besore had been up to the april term of our court a Secessionist and I believe still is. Hence his political admirers are pleased with his having broken up our Company.

Mr Litherland and a few others good men whose unionism is undoubted can and will raise another company at once. providing your Excellency will receive them into the service.

All the prominent union men here will use their influence and indeed take an active part in the movement and realy hope you may be able to receive them.

Several of our young men returned home from camp Anna through the Southern counties and they report Secessionism rampant from what they saw they are of the opinion that a large

Majority of the people in those counties are disaffected towards the Government. Their report has stired up our people wonderfully and we are going to form a home gard here and want some armes this precinct has always been head quarters for Republicanism and should any demonstrations be made any where this would be a point. give us arms and we will sustain the honor and authority of our governments. State and federal with cheerfulness and delight.

Since the death of our much estemed fellow citizens the lamentable Douglass, I am afraid Secession will increase in Egypt

You may depend upon it my dear Sir, the leven is in them and only needs an opportunity to work fately to the constituted authorities.

The returnd volenteers report the town of Marion in Williamson County as very hostile to the government, and furnishing men for the Southern Army

I refer you to Judge Dubois &c

Very Respectfuly

Wm R Wilkinson

W. R. Wilkinson.

concerning secession in Egypt.

Answered.