Ebenezer N. O. Clough to Richard Yates

Leavenworth Kansas Dec 1/61

To His Excellency

Gov Yates, Ills

Sir, I was commissioned some time since by Gen'l. Fremont to raise a regiment of Infy to operate on the border of Mo. as I resided at the time in Platte Co. Mo & had seen service in the Mexican War.

I find it impossible to raise a regiment in Mo. unless i had a force to protect my recruiting officer.

My object in addressing your excellency is to know whether you would object to my visiting Southern Ills & raising a regiment to operate in Mo. if the regt. were to be numbered as

an Illinois Regiment.

I am an old soldier & have lost my all in this North Western Mo & have a wife & five children dependent upon me.

Unless North Western Mo & the Union can be redeemed, then I am not worth a cent in the world & my family must suffer.

Under these circumstances I have taken the liberty of addressing your Excellency & hope I may receive permission to raise a regiment in the Southern part of your State.

I am a Virginia[ born?] & my father a Bostonian & I have resided for thirty years in Mo.

All that I have in the world is in Platte County & my family have been driven out homeless & homeless just at the beginning of winter because I, the husband & Father had obtained from Fremont a commission to reenter the service of my country.

Please let me hear from your Excellency and oblige

Very Resp Yrs

Ebenezer N. O. Clough

Col. of Infy

Col Clough. Mo

wants to raise a Regt in Ills. See Gov. Mem.

ansd Dec 27

Write this man a good kind letter, sympathizing &c and show him why cannot suffer more Regiments in Ills &c