John Humphrey to Richard Yates

Union County Ill Jan 6 1863 Mr Richard Yates

                             Sir it is the first 

time I ever rote to the Govoner ye there is a cause for it Thire is things going on in the Army and Country that can be detected by proper means. Withought these means I consider the goverment unsafe these things are Secrett organised Society tho they may seem small to you not knowing any thing of them yet thay are sturn facts that are staring us in the face witch facts are iff not counteracted will ruin our country you are aprised thire is a Secret order in the Country yet the Efects of that orsder lies deep in darkness and a Small pig at the Start is a large hog at this time Thire can be a good uunion man found that can unravell the mistres of that order iff it is nesesary and can be kept a secret now and for ever this man can give all the signs grips and palecy of that ordser witch information wold be of grate importance to the administration perhaps save our country and iff not out country a large amount of money this is sent you to consider and wright to me iff his name can be kept Secret & iff you want the proof of thus fact and all be kept quiet and Still he can be got to come up there to see you face to face and prove to your Satisfaction & the president also it will be nessary to have a man that under stands the order to prove the fact by giving sines and pass words Corect to pofs you to it

This thing will have to Comence in the Ofesers of the army to do any good as it is in the army and it all must be kept as a profound Secret

                 Anna Union County Illinois
                                  Jan 11 63
                       Gov R Yates Sir as 

you may more fully under stand those lines Riten a Bove I will try to explain them the gentleman that rote them Belongs to the secret order cal the K.G.C. and has made a confident of me to communicate them to you and President Lincoln for consideration if you think them worthy of notice he has led me in to some of the plans of that secret Lodge which he is a member in full fellowship and went in to find out thare plans he said that he can convinse you that he can explain the matter to you By taking two staunch union men and Learn them the signs and pass them through the army a mong the officers that Blong to that order that is doing much to weaken our efforts in puting down the Rebellion if you wish see him and have him explain the mater to you he can Be had if you can a range it so as to pay his expenses and compensate him for his time as he is a poor man and has a family dependant on him for a suport I beleave himto Be a true union man and is anxious to do all that he can in savig the goverment I must say to you as a friend that I wish this communication to be truly confidential-as I am in danger of loosing my life in this section of the state- I will state one thing that you may know how the feeling is at present. There has been About 3,000 peach & apple trees cut down in one night in the last two Weeks. Belonging to Republicans. please write immediately whether you wish to see this friend & Myself- yours truly-

                                         John Humphrey

               John Humphrey
                 Union County

   Says that the order of
   K.G.C. is strong in the
  Southern part of state
   and in the army.
  says that a man can
  be had who is a member
  who would be willing
  to find out members
  & disclose secrets &.

      "Rebellion"