Thomas H. Clark to Richard Yates

To His Excellency Gov. Yates

Hon. Gov.

The Petition of Thos H Clark of Mound City Ills

Respectfully Sheweth

That I am before your Excellency as an applicant for the Commission of Captain in some of your Ills. Inf. Regts.

The claims I have to offer are that I am a graduate of the Brittish School, and haveeing served five years in the Irish Constabulary Force as Lieut, or (sub Inspector) also Three years in our American, Some Three years in Wisconsin as Govt Surveyor, also Holding Commission as Notary Public & Justice of the Peace. Some six years as Surveyor & N.P. in Cape Girardeau County Mo. where I was serving at the breaking out of this war.

Being acquainted personally with many of the leading men, in that state from Sterling Price down to N. Watkins much was expected from me in aid of their rebellious-schemes - Tho' Politically and personally the friend and acquaintaince of the lamented & Hon S. A. Douglass. I did not hear his proud course when I denounced the election of Nat. Watkins to the Missouri Convention as treason against

our beloved Govt. this I done in the City of Cape Girardeau and for preventing them from fooling the Dutch and leading them into treason-I was driven from the city.

I wrote them the annexed Ballot, which incurred the deadly hatred and caused the death of my Fatherinlaw Brown, and his son at Poplar Bluff this in addition to their being unflinching Republicans

I raised in Thebes Ill by order of Gen Prentice then Col Prentice, the local force Known as the Prentice Guards-a few days after the Noble and Gallant, Warren Stewart, raised his Co. of Home Guards. I was driven from this point by the Copperheads of Thebes and some Rebels from Missouri for raising this Co. tho their plea was " I reported " Democrats." Co. is now under Capt Woods and doing good Service all of them Union men. My family were rescued from this point by Gen. Paine, then Col at Cairo and brought to Mound City where I have since Resided-I was appointed Inspector of Gun Boat Construction at this Point by Capt. I. Rodgers Comdg. this Squadron but as soon as he left I was discharged by Charles Kendell present Superintendent on the Report that I reported Democrats. The same old thing has haunted me and worked against me on Some minds

from that time to the present. I was recommended by Warren Stewart to Gen. McClernand to command his company and I understood from the Clerk that a Commission of some class was issued to me. This was during the Battle of Donnelson I was there in my first fight. I was previously aid for Col Wagner on Reconnasaince and designed for the Govt an approximator for estimating distances from the deck of vessels-for throwing shell which was approved by Gen's Grant & Mclernand, & Major Webster, [F?]. E.

I was employed by D. E. C. Franklin a good and true friend to me & to his Government and during this time and before I always rendered every assistance to our troops in recruiting and teaching young Officers their duty Since that time I have Scouted with Success through Arkansas and made a plat by which all those Boat Burners were destroyed opposite and about Memphis I have done my duty-and am now with a well grounded hope that your Excellency will grant my request. It occurred to me that if your Excellency would grant me a Commission and place me at this point Subordinate to that Excellent Officer Capt Scott in the Provost dept, with authority to raise a Co. I believe it could

be done here and as I know every man here and nearly in this district I could be of much public value. I was elected a short time since by the Unanimous vote of this City as City Marshall, but as certain individuals wanted me under their finger, I resigned I pander to no man that wont support our beloved President, "Abe Lincoln. God Bless him. Your petitioner feels your very humble and faithful Servant

Thos H Clark

Genl Eng.

Mound City

Ills

P. S. I have got evidences of the foregoing statement if necessary to produce them-

Written & Published Jan 1861

and sung all over the district

Tune Star Spangled Banner

How plain to be seen through the gloom of the South

The Monster Rebellion-the desist of Treason

Created by Democrats, that have been turned out

Of office, through mercy in time in good Season

When the Best interests of Man had came to a Stand

Though Corruption and fraud of the vilest of men

Our God through his love the Nation to Save

Gave us for a leader good "Honest Old Abe"

2nd

Regretted tis true, we feel we deplore

That those Southern Rebels would try to ignore

In their Humbugging frenzy and mock restitution

For evils imagined, destroy the Constitution

Our God the Boon gave and he Surely will Save

Unsullied, and peserve this great "land of the Brave"

The the Unborn Millions of posterity may See

He designed this great land as a home for the free

3

Oh where are those wreaths that round the memory entwines

The laurels of Battle, Since Old Brandywine

Won defending that flag, our own Washington unfurled

The shelter from Tyrants, all over the world

Is it to be Severed by the ruthless hand

Of Office Seeking Democrats abroad in our land

No never, never never whilst freemen can Save

For God has decreed it, Though good, Honest Abe

4 As his chosen servant is this time of need

Of our Nations disturbance which Soon Shall be freed

Of those lawless disturbing and insidious foes

Who desiring position inaugurates these woes

Aid him ye freemen all over the land

Be proud of your leader he soon takes Command

He will lead his people in the execution

In their duty, in defense of the Constitution

5th

Rally round his Standard and never desire

To rest till the last armed Democrat expires

Sound the [illegible] of War, from the Shop to the plough

In Council he's Safe with Chase Seward & *Howe

And hosts of the true Spirit-in the immortal band

What in Justice and might-round good Abram does stand

To defend and deliver our nation from Strife

Of those "rule or ruin" faction who desire "war to the knife"

6

Be firm, tho may God whom our destiny rules

Shield the people from the treason of those deluded fools

Shew those Rebels in mercy their error thus far

The evils resulting in [illegible] war

Shew them that the Democrats caused all this Strife

Have first robbed their Treasury would now take their life

Whilst they laugh in the back Ground at their Hellish deeds

And chuckle and gloat, o'er their filthy proceeds

• Senator Howe of Wisconsin to whom I would respectfully refer-