James Lawton to Richard Yates

Genrel Hospittle No 2 Lexington, Ky

March the 24 1863, To the Honarable Richard Yates Govnar of the State of Illinoice

Dear sur I hope you will pardon me for the liberty I take in addressing you I belong to Co G 115th regt Ill vol. I have been in the service over seven months and have been sick about six months I stayed with the Regt as long as I could I was obliged to go into the hospittle last Nov I have been in the Hospittles ever since first at Richmond then in lexington then in Danvill and then to Lexington againe Dr More our surgon, exammined me and said I was not fit for the service and gave me Surtifacit of disability Dr. Marsh Surgon in charge of Hospittle No 5 Lexington examined me also and

pronounced me unfit for the service and said I ought to bee discharged but before the board met I was transfered to No 2 I went before the board here and all was in favor of dischargeing me but the surgon in charge he is a harde harted man and cares no more for a man that he does for a hog if I could serve my countrey it would not seem so harde but thare is no prospect of my ever being able again I am an expence to the goverment and forced to drag out alife of misery and distress here i f I have to stay here I do not belive I will three months longer besides this my wife is sick and haveing to leave the house I left hur in she is forced to seeke a shelter among the neighbours who tell her that I am a black abolitionist and am fiteing to free the negroes or I would dersert and come home, she can no

longer take care of the little property I left with hur it is get ing scatterd and going to waist and my family will bee reduced poverty if I could go home I could get a house for my family and keepe the little I have together and in time I mite make aliveing but if I stay here long it will bee to late then what will become of my poor family I had as lives dog as deserte even from the hospittle may God give me grace to sustain me in this my hour of trial and guide me arite Dear sur if you can help me to get home for humanitys sake and for the sake of my family help me pleas write to meas soon as you get this and let me know whether you can helpe me or not it will satisfy my minde I will now close imploreing the blessing of God uppon our beloved countrey

Jas Lawton to Governar Yates Springfield Ill

Ans April 10 1863

James Lawton

Lexington March 24 1863

Is a member of the 115th Regt. - now confined in the Genl Hospital at Lexington Wishes the Governor to assist him in getting a discharge

Surgeon

Recd Ex O March 28 1863.