Leonidas to Richard Yates

Otego Township Fayette Co. Illinois Aug 15th 61

Governor Yates

Dear Sir

Soon after the passage of the militia law of May 3rd the citizens of this township having heard of the passage of the bill but not being acquainted with its provisions & being desirous of becoming acquainted with military manoeuvers organized a temporary volunteer company for the purposes of drill & military discipline until such time as they might organize permanently under the law. That company was gotten up by the exertions of a man of good education - well developed intellect large experience & of unimpeachable moral & Christian character. Well the company elected that man Captain by more than a 4/5 vote After the military law was distributed & its requirements known the Captain exerted himself vigorously to effect a permanent organization under the law and finally succeeded in enlisting the requisite number. But among that number were many men who while they claim to be good Union men say nevertheless that they will not fight against the south under any circumstances, that the South has been imposed upon - her rights taken away - that she has a perfect right to secede that the present war is a sectional matter, the north arrayed against the south, that the north is the aggressor & that it is the duty of the government to compromise on the terms dictated by the Secession, that their cause is the cause of God & that it is folly to think that the federal government can ever succeed against the cause of justice & the favored of heaven. These men voted for Douglas but when Douglas declared for the perpetuity of the Union they denounced him as a traitor to his party. Well in organizing this last company such men have entered largely into its composition

This caused many whole souled Union men to decline enlisting for fear of consequences & while the Union men who did join acted upon fair & honorable principles laying aside all party considerations & readily yielded to democrats & wavering men their full share of the offices there was on the other side a secret understanding, the democrats united to a man as though it was a political contest - run a straight out democratic ticket & having everything arranged for the occasion they elected for Captain a man from the lowest dregs of society - a man of no education no general intelligence but little experience in business of any kind - a man noted for profanity vulgarity & drunkenness. A man violently opposed to the policy of the State executive & the National administration & he is precisely the man for their purpose viz to break down the company & in doing thwart the measures of the State authorities or else to drill & discipline a set of men in our midst that may hereafter be brought to bear against the best interests of our common country - Now what I have stated I will prove by the best of evidence when called for - & what I have to say further is that you please accept of two suggestions I have to make & that you will act upon one of them. First there I would ask you to decline giving Captain James Beale a commission until you shall have fully investigated the statements I have made & if you should finally give him his commission I would suggest the propriety of ordering the company into immediate service & then you will find a speedy scattering among two elements of our company viz of those who will not fight against the south & of those who will not fight under such a leader.

Yours Respectfully

Leonidas

If you can do anything to help us out of our present difficulties by managing so as to have the militia called out by a union man duly authorized to do so & desire the name of such a man as would be agreeable to the Union portion of our township or if you wish the proof of what I have written you shall have it immediately over my own proper signature & certified by the best men of the township & the respectability of the testimony shall be attested by some of the most prominent men of Vandalia.

My address for the present - Leonidas - Vandalia Fayette County Illinois

PS

The first lieutenant on yesterday stated publicly in Vandalia that if their company should be called out new officers would have to be elected for that the present ones would not serve in such a case.

Yours &C

Leonidas

Secession Anonymous Leonidas Vandalia Fayette Co.