J. J. Phelps to Richard Yates

Lewistonn 1st Sept 1864

Hon. R. Yates

Dear Sir

your esteemed favor enclosing your Photographs was recieved some time ago I have delayed answering it till now to see what our prospects were or would be in the fall Election I have no doubt but we will Elect our member of the Lower House in Mercer & Henderson & Warren and the Senator from McDonough Warren and Henderson making a gaine of 3 from that section and my Brothers with whom I am in consultation hope

if our soldiers get Home they will do something in this Fulton Co. I suppose I need not urge it on you the necesity of having a good many of our Soldiers back at the Election as I knowe you must be aware of the almost vital importance to the County of carrying this State at coming Elections I believe the cost of a Battle by Grant or Sherman would not be so bad to the county if you had not been Elected we should have had the worst Kinde of a civil War for the last 2 years in our state you and every other influential Man in the state should see to it in time that our Soldiers

are allowed to return I have conversed with a greate Many banding Men since I wrote you before and have not heard the Name of any other before mention for the Senate but your self pleas accept my thanks for the Photographs and if anything turns up that my Brothers or myself can be of any Service to the cause write us freely yours Truly &c

J. J. Phelps

J. J. Phelps.

Lewiston Ill Sept 1st 64

Thanks for Autographs. Thinks they will carry Mercer, Harvey, Warren & Mconough counties at the Fall election. Warns the Govr. against not allowing the Soldiers to come home & vote.

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