Henry Asbury to Richard Yates

Provost Marshal's Office Fourth Congressional District, Illinois Quincy, April 23rd 1864

To His Excellency Richard Yates Govenor of Illinois Springfield, Ills

Govenor

I have the honor to very respectfully refer to a news paper statement to the effect that upon your request and representations aided therein by Govenor Morton of Indiana the President would soon call for 200,000 more volunteers for local defence of the line of the Ohio.

I beg very respectfully to say that I hardly think that this number can now be obtained but if you would ask for say 3000 men to be raised in Ill for one year the troops thus raised not to be called upon or obliged to go beyond our state lines that the project would be very speedily carried into effect, and our domestic peace and safety insured.

I assume you are as well or better informed than I am of the alleged purposes of a certain class of reckless men of the Quantrill stripe, for making a desperate raid through Western Illinois and to pass through North Missouri.

It is now believed that quite a number of the men engaged in the raid upon Lawrence are in Illinois, Canada, and the North western States, some of them have lately been tracked to this State.

The particulars of my information cannot be communicated in this letter nor in deed in any letter.

At present as we are situated here 300 men of this character can in one night burn and rob Quincy, the Government depots of clothing, &c, make a ten strike.

I have this day been informed by a detective from Mo that before the last of June the thing will be done.

I am Governor no alarmist! but really I deem it my duty to say that we should

have men and arms enough here for defense. There is not now to be had for The United States one hundred muskets in Quincy.

The company belonging to 2nd Battallion Vet Reserve Corps are without arms- I believe of any kind. I have ten muskets in the hands of my Guard, besides these the United States has none.

A year or more ago some guns- the number I do not know- were placed in the hands of Col Grimshaw by the State - this is as I understand - of these I believe Capt Steinwedells company have now probably forty or fifty, at present in the hands of the colored regiment for guard duty, they being still unarmed.

If Illinois which has sent the most men abroad to fight for the country could now be allowed to raise say 3000 men for home purposes for one year- to be distributed say 500 in Quincy, 100 at Warsaw, 300 in Pike Co, 100 at Lewistown or Peoria, that would

do for all west of the Ill River.

The other 2000 at such points as you might deem best - We might feel safe -

If this cannot be done let us have 500 men here under a good and experienced prudent officer.

I have been compelled to equivocate and dodge enquiries every day as to the means of our defence. I have been afraid to to tell that we are so defenceless.

I do not Govenor believe all I hear but I cannot resist the idea, that Quincy situated as it is here on the border with so many men in it lately from Missouri, and where copperheads are the fashion & sits upon her Hills like a fat goose ready to be plucked.

If any thing is done for us in the matter suggested it should be done at once, and the men Kept here until it shall be made certain that we intend to defend this place.

Will you please excuse the freedom

of this letter, and believe me that it is written under no excitement, and for no selfish end.

Nor would I now ask even if Quincy should be burned to the ground, that one man needed for the front should be recalled or Kept back.

I wish only to urge that we may have the men to be raised here. We will find the men if the Government will find the money.

I am Govenor Very Respectfully Your Obdt Servt

Henry Asbury Capt & Pro Mar 4 Dis Ill

Quincy, Ill., April 23rd 1864

ASBURY, HENRY,

Capt. & Provost Marshal 4th District Illinois

R (a ae 4 N. S. Ill) Apr 26/64