B. Mendenhall to Richard Yates

Camp Douglas Dec 7th 1863

Hon, Richard Yates

Springfield

Respected Sir

It is a feeling of diffidence that I again address you a few lines in regard to getting a situation in the Army that will compensate me for my time. Forgive me in doing this for necessity compels me to urge on But my object in writing to your Excellency this time is to make a Statement of a certain fact that has occurred here, please bear with me. There is a certain Lieut J.A. Fife here that has recently been transfered to the 1st Bat Inalid Corps (formily of the 75th Ill Vol) I understand this to be an honerable Corp, and none but those who merit it can obtain to a position in it

Now this same J. A. Fife is a swindler and owes me for my property which by his fair speech and oily tounge he got from me with his promise to pay upon the word and honor of a gentleman. Now he can atain to an honorable position by fals representation and Chicanery; can strut with a Lieut' salary and cheat and defraud a comon soldier, who gets his hard tack and no support for his children, can toil on for his thirteen Dollars per month and no recourse whatsoever. "Of consistency thou art a jewell," "Of judgment thou ard fled to bruitish beasts and men have lost reason" Smothed tounged, oily words, walking puppet shows; so goes the world; all right the bigger the rascal the more leniency he gets and the more favors he receives; To the above Statement I get as good men as the state afords to endorse the fact. But enough of this.

In trying to serve my Country I have lost my health I do not begrudge it I can lay down my life if necessary for the preservation of our Glorious and Benign Government anything that my Country requires of me, but I cannot see my family suffer for the Common necessaries of life I could loose a thousand lives if I had them in the defence of our beloved land yet my duty to my family first and above all except to my God. This will be the last I shall write your Excellency in regard to this matter and will leave the subject with you. You I presume are placed beyond the reach of want and may never need the assistance of Friends God grant you may never need them. In your political periginations through life if you should want the votes of the gallant soldiers of Illinois please remember the poor soldier who addresses you upon this occasion and

call upon him and ask his vote he knows his duty and will not falter in time of need, and in closeing up this correspondence with your Excellency rember that it is in the sturdy yeomanry who have shouldered the trusty musket and dared to breast the storm of damneble and tratorous Secessionists and drove them back their slimy [stays?], that you can put your trust; if they are not worthy of honerable positions, certainly then swindlers are not

If your Excellency will deign to notice this letter and give an answer in due season it will ever be gratfuly remembered by your humble petitioner

Very Respectfuly I Remain

Yours Fraternaly

B. Mendenhall,

Co H 78th Reg Ill Vols

Mendenhall B.

Camp Douglas

Dec 7 1863

Wishes a position with army, is in very poor circumstances. can the Governor give him a position in a new regt.

Gov Endorsement on inside

[Dec?] 15 63

Answd---as directed

Hirshbach

State of Illinois

Executive Department

Springfield 186

General

We do not know where his address