John Gilbert to Richard Yates

Golconda Pope Co Ill July 29/61

Gov. Yates

Springfield Ill.

Dear Sir

I beg leave to respectfully represent to your Excelency, the destitute condition of this Town and vacinity, and the perilous situation that we occupy in consequence of the Beligerent attitude assumed by our neighbours in Northern Kentucky, they are all the time recruiting and raising companies for the aid of the South, and we know not what day or night we may be attacked by them in this portion of the State where nothing but the Ohio River intervenes between us and the rebbels. it would be very easy for them to bring a company of their volunteers over here before the started them South, and burn and destroy our Town, and Kill off its defenseless citizens, which the have threatened to do.

We have a home guard organized, and there has been a company of volunteers raised here whos services will be tendered your Honour this week, and if they are accepted, and ordered away we will be in a still more defenceless condition.

To render our situation more critical a few of our citizens having southern sympathies have left this side of the river and are now in Ky

making speeches and other ways inflaming the people of that State against us. denouncing us as abolitionists and that a man coming from that side of the River would be liable to be mobed and maltreated on acct of his political opinions, and that they were obliged to leave, and when they sent for their property, it was forcibly taken off the Ferry boat and confiscated these kind of misrepresentations are being made for the purpose of inciting an armed mob to come upon us

We therefore respectfully ask your Honour if you can, to send, us in haste one hundred guns and one [ps?] cannon. I will give you ample security that they will be returned when called for. For the truth of my statement, and loyalty to the government, I refer to Col J C Sloan surveyor of the post of Cairo. And to Gen Prentis commandant at the same place, and Jno Olney at or near Cairo

We applied for guns at Cairo but was informed that they could not supply us

with sentiments of esteem

I am your obt servant

John Gilbert

Dept surveyor at Golconda

P. S. Since the above was written I understand the company spoken of above, have been received and assigned to Col Reardons command

Jno Gilbert

Secession at Golconda

ansd