Sarah E. Henshaw to Richard Yates

Ottawa July 11th. 1864

Govenor Yates -

Dear Sir.

I beg you to accept my deepest thanks for your Telegram of the 7th. The kindness which promoted it, I shall never forget. It came, a ray of light in my blackest darkness.

I beg you to read the enclosed. It is a copy of one of many letters which the poor boys of Henshaw's Battery, are sending home now, conjuring somebody, anybody, everybody to help them get back their Captain. Let me describe to you their situation.

They have no horses. Their new Guns, drawn by my husband at Cincinnati, have been taken from them and given to an Ohio Battery, and they are digging day after day under the broiling sun, with no hope of any change unless they get my husband back, discouraged, disheartened, and on the verge of mutiny. They declare that if he is finally, torn from them, they will mutiny -- that no punishment can be worse than what they now endure, and it would at least take them out of the hands of their Lieutenants, whom they despise and abhor. I simply tell you, what they write _ I make no assertion, no comment. I could send you dozens of such letters as the enclosed.

I say nothing about "charges" _ I only point you with sorrowful pride, to one hundred and twenty men who declare my husband innocent, and who are ready to die for him. Who say that with him they will reenlist for five years without a furlough, but without him, they will get out of the Service as soon as possible. Who are counting the days until they can be once more, as they express it, "Free American citizens" and meet their Lieutenants, man to man.

Now Govenor Yates is it not a pity, to permit a fine Battery to go to destruction in this way? I appeal to you as Commander in Chief of the Illinois troops. O my dear Sir, I wish God would give me the eloquence nescessary to enlist your heart, your feelings, in this matter! There is a hidden fire in your nature which, once kindled, would sweep every obstacle before it! How can I reach it? I sometimes feel that I must, I shall I will have justice; that I will wring it from our high authorities! You could compel Secretary Stanton - that impossible man - to do us justice, should the case go so far. We all know, your personal, your political, your almost regal power. I put myself, my children, my husband, and the one hundred and twenty men who have already petitioned your care, under your protection. All we ask is, impartiality: justice O have somebody write me that you will ensure us that. I am desperate with grief -- therefore I write as I do. Forgive and help me!

Most Respectfully Yours

Sarah E. Henshaw -

Henshaw, Sarah E

Ottawa, Ills

July 11. 1864.

Acks Telegram of the 7th Implores Gov to exert his influence to have her husband restored to his Battery, which has been petitioned for by the members thereof.

One Enclosure.