John M. Boicourt to Richard Yates

Golconda August 11th 61

Hon Richard Yates Gov

Sir I am just in Receipt of your kind letter and am much obliged to you for your attention to these down in Southern Illinois the good Cause is gaining ground in this conty we have had 4 Barbecus in the last 3 weeks well attended the two last was one at Spirit Springs whare 15 hundred people herd speeches from two school boys & a Mr. Burnett and last by Dr. E. [Randear?] who recevd the attention of the people Better than I ever Saw in my life my young friend Saul Reper made a short an touching speech the other was at Columbus 6 miles west of Golconda the No in attendance was 11 or 12 hundred they eat their dinner which was excelent in quiet as much So as if eating at a hotel when they was adressed by G. B. Raum who was Listened to for 2 3/4 hours with good attention when he was geting down from the Stand an old lady 70 years old Sleped him on the Shoulder well gru you ar right

you ar for the Union yes says gru I am righ I think [rather?] yes says the old lady and I hope you and all of us will be righter this is the old lady who told some Southn feeling [illegible] if they attempd to Raise a Southn flag She would shoot the first one that attempted it and if they put it up at Knight She would climb the pole and pull it to peaces allow me to Say that Wm W Sloan has come over Lock Stock and barrel he mad a speech at a barbecu heare and said he would fight by the side of any body and fight for the union allow me to intrude lest you might not think it nessary but I am going to ask of you that as the volunteers start from heare on Wednesdy morning I ask you that you pay some attention to there reception at Springfield the Reason I ask this is that there is rather a hard feeling heare towards Republicans and for that Reason I ask that you pay a reasonable Share of warm feeling towards those who go from Egypt for I wish to strike a death blow to demockricy in this part of the world and you I know are not ignorant of the influance the Soulders has upon those they leave behind them I intended to go with this company but my finances will not admit I have a notion to get up a horse or Cavelry Company in this Conty but I will let you know more about it

J. M. Boicourt

H R Yates Governor

J. M. Boicard

Secession

no answer