William A. Grimsham to Richard Yates

Pittsfield, Pike County Ills

Sept 2. 1861

To His

Excellency

Governor Richard Yates

Sir.

Our Union men, regard it of prime importance, to protect our frontier and to overawe forces of Traitors, threatening Louisiana, Clarksville and Hannibal Missouri; that a Regiment of United States Cavalry be stationed within the limits of Pike county Illinois; with authority to cross the Mississippi, in case of a call for troops to meet advancing bands of traitors.

On the Mississippi Bottom, near Louisiana, there is, timber water & every essential for camplng; also at Summerhill, about seven miles West of Pittsfield and eleven miles from the Mississippi, on the road to Louisiana

there is a beautiful situation for a Camp of Cavalry, abundance of good water, fine shade & plenty of fuel.

Our Farmers have endless stores of cheap Beef, Cattle, Corn, Oats & Hay; and if the Military expediency is conceded to us, then we say, we have as a powerful county, which has sent perhaps 1500 men into service for our "Union", a right to make this urgent appeal and ask for a favorable response, at once.

We urge you as our Governor, yourself alive to the welfare of all Illinois, to call on the proper authorities to command the location of a Regiment say Col Nobles 2d Cavalry, within the limits of this (Pike) county Illinois

If Trason continues rampant on our Illinois frontier, when the Mississippi is bridged by ice, the great interests of our

citizens will suffer immediately.

Within six miles of the town of Louisiana, in Pike county, Illinois, at Rockport, is located a Flouring Mill which manufactures flour enough to feed Armies; this will be in peril and the herds of horses cattle & sheep and droves of hogs will be in danger of being swept off to feed traitors; unless driven from their proper places on the broad bottoms to the upland.

Calhoun, Pike & Adams Counties for sixty miles are exposed to vississitudes of this War, in an eminent degree.

Quincy may be taken if our interests suffer in Pike.

Let us aid in crushing out Treason at once.

Several Camps of Secessionists, threaten the river towns in Ralls & Pike counties Missouri

Our citizens say Eight or nine hundred are in arms in Pike County Missouri to protect

the Union, Men of Pike county Missouri; we have been there one week - a despatch came in to day & says that at a meeting of Union men at Louisiana, it was resolved that if our force is withdrawn, before Cavalry located, as we now ask, the Union Men of Pike Missouri must send their families into Illinois; some have done so.

I speak of that I know personally. I have been for several days, at times, in Louisiana.

Can we get any Muskets? We have only shotguns & rifles. We ask for Cartridges & for Buck shot at once. I will explain to Mayor John Wood what we want

Yours very Respectfully

Wm A. Grimshaw

Written after communication with leading Union men of Pike Ills & Missouri