W. B. Ogden to Richard Yates

Chicago May 8, 1861 Gov Yates Dear Sir Enclosed I hand you the application of a small corps of six female nurses, who desire to be called on to do Hospital duty & to attend to sick or wounded soldiers, wherever they may be needed.

They are all very fine women & of excellent character & able and efficient.

They are all members of different churches here in good standing & have certificates from their respective pastors & from physicians and others fully endorsing them & their competency & usefulness for the labors they propose to undertake.

They will give no troble but provid efficiently to the performance of their duty

if called upon as I hope they may be promptly - I believe if this system of good female nurses may once properly inaugurated it would never be abandoned - I know no six women so likely to inaugurate it with credit as the 6 whose applications I enclose. The question of compensation they leave entirely with you or the proper officers.

Mrs. Yates the matron of this party is desirous to know whether her services are likely to be needed here as soon as may be. Her only son - indeed only child is first Lieutenant in Elsworths Corps at Washington, & she thinks of going there to seek employment if she finds none here in the capacity of nurse.

I cannot doubt the services of these women at Springfield or Cairo is

already needed & that it would be a great kindness to send them at once to take care of the sick there under the direction & control of the Medical Staff & I hope it may be done.

Yours very truly W.B. Ogden