G. Wright to Richard Yates

G. Wright

Private

Mason Illinois

April 25th 1861

To his excellency

Richard Yates

Govenor of Ills.

Since the nobel sons of old Effingham County have so valiently volenteered to defend the "Stars & Stripes" and especially, since the I.C.R.R. has been carrying Soldiers to Cairo, the cloven-foot of secession has manifested itself right in our midst. Quite a number among us are at heart, the enemies of the Federal Government - and only want the power to enable them to turn the whole North into the hands of the enemies of this Government. There are in this village those who would, I verily believe, if they were not afraid, lead on a band of secessionists from the South, and rejoice in seeing them subjugate us - and visit the Chains of Slavery on our necks. One of the old posts in the Democratic party has been heard to say that "the volenteers from this Co. were cowards, and that hoped they every one get what they deserved before they return". His wife has said that "She hoped to God the South would kill every one of them" - and his little son has frequently said the same thing - which certainly reflects the sentiments of the head of the family. This same old man has said within the last five days that he could command the force in three days to take the Town of Mason, and that Republicans had better mind how they talk about traitors.

These things he has said to his supposed confidential friends - He has not said them publicly. And it is my deliberate opinion that he speaks the sentiments of not less than from six to ten men within five miles of this place. And many more are of the same opinion with me. In Clay County I learn there are a good many secessionists who are clamorours in favor of the South. And farther south in Egypt, I have every reason to belive that there are many who will fight for the South in the event fighting has to be done on the border. And since our volenteers left here on Tuesday last, we have commenced making up a company of minute men - to be called the Mason minute guards - and a certain man in this vicinity has said as soon as the Company was made up and left here, he'd bring in a company to Rob & plunder ever "Black Republican" that was left behind. These things look hard: but they are true. In such a crisis as the present, these men are dangerous to the communities in which they live. In the present emergency, it seems to me that effective legislative means should be provided for the prompt surpression of every thing that would tend to encourage disloyalty in our midst, & invite the invasion our free territoy in Ills. by an armed body of rebbells. One enemy at home is more to be dreaded than many abroad. I fear thare are 10,000 traitors in Southern Ills. & may be many more. Yours in Confidence G. Wright