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Pittsfield Aug 17. 1864
His Excllcy
Gov Richd Yates
Springfield Ills
Dear Sir,
This County (Pike) is in a very excited condition. We have large numbers of Missouri Bushwhackers passing day & night all can be observed, who appear in public, & they are getting bold eno to show themselves in our towns, even in Pittsfield, with at least one revolver. Recently a party of 8 or 10 passed East of Pittsfield with guns, in the night. Camps are heard of composed of men only, in many parts of our county. Recently an officer from Missouri tried to arrest a Col Hickerson East of Pittsfield & was resisted by 5 armed men who drew revolvers & he had to suffer
Hickerson to go at large, in a populous neighborhood, in which there are many rebel sympathizers.
Revelations have been made to J. L. Irvin Esq for some time past that a Raid was intended, by friends of the rebel Crowd on Roselle, who escaped from Pike Jail & was shot in Greene county Ills, a few weeks since.
Judge Fagg Circuit Judge, residing at Louisiana Missouri has written to two of our League Officers in Pike, that a Raid was to be made from Pike Missouri upon us. The Bushwhackers, here now, spent last winter here & went off when the leaves came -- some of them voted here -- they congre
gate where most Copperheads exist, they have no families, all have military saddles & bridles & mostly good horses but much [faded?].
Thieves have confessed in our Courts that they had been in Missouri & in extenuation pleaded the "troubles of the times & bad advice".
Our people in the West part of Pike are much alarmed, the river Mississippi is very low, In places fordable nearly all across and often only 50 yards to swim. The Bushwhackers do not cross at the Ferries. They come and go at night.
We are in danger here, especially if anything turns up to make these villians feel more encouragement for their cause. I am especially marked
The rebel Newspaper "Pike County Democrat" has assailed me ever since the war began. It attacks now the Leagues (U L. A) for arming to meet these Bushwhackers. I have not seen the paper, to be opened in the morning, but I am told it is full of bitterness at us for arming the leagues.
We are getting ready by common & some consent of action for trouble. Our County Clerk Wm Steers received circulars in [illegible], he is a rank copperhead. His speeches and those of other prominent men are very bitter, made in the country to crowds, in Pike. We have a Central Committee of Safety. We have say 400 Muskets fit for service. Some muskets got out to State Militia who are disloyal. I wish Col Oakes would give an order to seize them in case of an out break
The mass of the citizens of Pike will resist Bushwhackers if our loyal people lead them. We desire you as our Governor to know our perilous condition and the reason why we are on the alert.
This is a very wealthy county large in territory, has large creeks much timber land, wide unsettled river bottoms affording harbors for marauders & strong temptations.
Will there be any thing objectionable if we throw our loyal men into the shape of a regiment. We cannot do so under the Militia law -- it is obsolete.
Can we get any parts of muskets & locks to repairs others with. Ours are the old Springfield pattern. We could fit up say 100 more muskets if we had some
parts of muskets for repairs. We want reamers to cut out rust.
Can any ammunition as Caps & Cartridges be obtained from the State.
We have some of these. We will not provoke a fight and shall not shun it.
Please advise us what steps to take.
Since writing the above, We have reliable intelligence that Bushwhackers retreating from Montgomery & Greene Counties camped in Pike -- were fed by known copperheads, were [piloted?] thro Pike, seized the Clarkesville Ferry Boat & crossed for Prairieville Missouri, 30 miles or less from Pittsfield.
On behalf of our Committee of Safety, I have written this
The Committee is Capt Robt McKee Austin Barber George Abbott N. A Wells. N. Kelly and Wm A Grimshaw & [Counett?] Winans
Yours with great esteem
Wm A. Grimshaw
Grimshaw William A.
Pittsfield Ills Aug 17th 1864
Details condition of affairs in Pike Co. They have 400 guns want locks &c to repair others.
Ansd by Genl Paine
H
Pike Co
Grimshaw
Aug 22. 1864
Col Crowell
Answer questions as to guns & ammunition
Have no spare parts to issue. have ammunition subject to the Governors order