A. M. Worden to Richard Yates

New Salem Pike Co Ill

Jan 27 '63

Hon Richard Yates

D Ser

Permit me as a stranger (but still as a friend) to address you a few lines at this time on a subject which I deem of great importance.

The Secessionists of this place & vicinity have organized themselves under some head or now perhaps Knights of the G. C. I know not what

But something I do know & that is their openly avowed intentions to over throw the government. & I fear that unless something is done soon to check their [presperity?] their purposes will ultimately be accompllished

They meet here secretly once or twice per week & receive members by an oath to oppose the government. This I have been informed by those whom they have offered to receive if they would take The oath. It is no longer

a secret that they meet nor is the main object of their meeting any longer a secret viz. to overthrow the government. They boast of having an organization of 400 in Quincy & several in this county. There is one in Eldaro Township in a little village called Washington. The friends of the Union are becoming alarmed at the present state of affairs & propose meeting this evening to organize for self defenses.

Governor I am not ignorant of the fact that I am addressing a wiser man than myself. But something I have to propose to break up such organizations & before it is to late.

My plan is this for you to send about two reliable witnesses into every place where such organizations can be heard of. Let them be strictly Union men. But let them profess a sympathy for sucesh & work their way into those secret bodies

as members. Let them come here & to these places under the pretence of starting some kind of business & when this object shall have been accomplished & they have learned enough to convict the leaders let them leave & send for the rebels.

One of the principle leaders here is one Coderick [Staats?] who was run off from here for fear of the authorities last summer. Also one E. P. Warren & One Ike Hedges. & some more by the names of Cochaan.

He's openly boasted here that a simultaneous rising here & in Ind, Ohio & N. York is contemplated.

You may think this a strange prediction but it is no more strange than truth. Something must be done soon to prevent a general fight between neighbor & neighbor here. Please send someone here immediately to

ascertain the facts & by so doing save yourself & Union men here from trouble. There is nothing like destroying the thing in its infancy.

I am Hon Sir with great respect

Yours &C

(Rev) A. M Worden, D. P. M.

File

"Revolution"

Rev. A M Worden

New Salem Pike Co

Jany 27 -- 63

Secessionists organizing into secret societies. Gives the names of some of the leaders. Proposes that Gov. send two men to ferret out their plans.

(Remarkable letter)

File

"Revolution"