George A. Willeford to Richard Yates

Ill Williamson County

Nov the 7th 1863

To the Hon Richard Yates Dear Sir as out and out union man i Avail my self of the present opportunity of writing you a few lines with A request for some information I wish To know whether a soldier acording To the laws of the state of Illinois Is entitled to vote in state and County elections I will state the points that I want to know First is a deserter entitled to vote or not Second is asoldier a volenteer in any redg of Illl volenteers entitled to his vote or not Third is a man entitled To his vote that claims to owe Alegiance to a foreign government Now I as an old man that loves my Country and the representative of three boys that went in the Army one is dead and the other too

Is a doing their duty to their God and their Country and I do not Want to be behind them in Doing my duty to my Country Williamson County is and has been A strong sesesh hole from the beginning of the rebellion the copperheads With [W?]J Allen Col RN [Handley?] And the officers of the hundred And 28th redgment notoriety Has caried the County by some Fifty or fifty five votes provost Marshall [philis] sais theres is about Three hundred dserters in Williamson County and from the best information That I can get they all to a man voted The copperhead ticket and if they Are not entitled to vote we wish To contest the election and have the Poles purged of illegal votes and We want to get at it rite if we do it Att all we are satisfyed that we

Have been beat by fraud and Rascality the means in part they used was deserters british subjects And whiskey and copperhead judges of the election as to take any to the Courts as long as AJ Duff is Judge It is out of the question we want your opinion and the opinion of the Eterney general of the state on these questions yours for freedom and the union forever

George A. Willeford

To the Hon Richard Yates Gov of The State of Ill

P.S. Excuse my intruding on your Time respectfully yours

Direct to Merian po Williamson County of Illinois

Willeford Geo H. Marion Illinois Nov 17 1863

Is a soldier entitled to vote in County and State Elections?

Is a deserter entitled to vote?

Is a man claiming to owe allegiance to a foreign government entitled to vote. Had had three sons in the Army---one dead. Williamson County carried by the copperheads by fraud---rascali---and foreign votes---& whiskey---300 deserters &c &c

Answd fully Nov 25 '63

Loomis ADC

EO Nov 21st 1863