Mary Beckum to Richard Yates

Jacksonville Ills December 2, 1863

To the Govenor of Illinois, Mr. Yates

Dear Sir

I wrote to you some time since concerning my son James E Beckum a soldier in the 101 Ills volenteers company E, Wishing to have him discharged if it be possable, I will soon have to give up the house I am now living in and have no where to go and have no one to get a place for me, and have four little children to support and no one to help me, you wrote to me some weeks since that you had wrote to the Secretary of war about my son but have never sent me his answer I wish you to do all you can for my son, and let me know whether you will discharge him or not I am now in my forty second year and part of the time under the doctors care and am the Mother of eleven children and James is the oldest and is not twety one yet all the others are dead excepting those I spoke of and he is all my help and a good son he is and if he can not get to come home I do not know what I shall do he went to the war before his father death or he would not now be away from his poor Mother please do all you can for me as soon as you can for, I am in great need of help

Your Truly Mary Beckum

To the Honerable Richard Yates

Govenor of Illinois

Beckam Mary

Jacksonville Dec 2. 63

Wrote the govenor sometime ago requesting the discharge of her son James E Beckum of 101st Regt. Has not heard from letter sent to the Secty of War.

Beckum is now in the hospital at Camp Butler-

Snyder-

Executive Office Dec [5?] 63