Mary McMahon to Richard Yates

1862 the 2 August Albany Ills

Mr. gov [illegible[

Dear sir

as my husband is in the united Stats servis and is not fit for Duty i as a stranger have cald on you for his rescue for thair sirgon says that he will not give another discharge if they all on thair hands Oh my god can it be that my poor sick husband is thair and i can not be with him in howers of danger he has the consumption and he has had the sore eyes so that he cant hardly see to rods from him Oh dear can it be, if it lays in your power i want you to get him his

discharge if posable and you shall be rewarded for it i want you to get his discharge So that i can get him hom for he is no use to the Servis so for he is so he had better be at home wher i can take care of him I was withe him all winter untill my health failed so that i could stay no longer with my husband i was obliged to come north whair my health is improving slowly but it will not permit me to return to him so i thought if you could help me git his discharge you should be Rewarded fur it they have had his Discharge all made out but thair Sirgon would no Sign

Sign the discharge Thair has 100 and 30 soldiers dide thair for the want of a discharge they aplyed for one but thair sergon would not sign it my husband says that he thinks thair sirgon is a Rebble or he would have mor pitty on his soldiers patents and i think so to My husbands name is Joseph McMahan he is with the 52ond Ills volunteers Co F SS Dun is his Captain he is now in Pittsburg landing tinnn [illegible] but the company is at Corinth

P Direct your letter to Albany Whitesid Co Ills to Mrs. Mary

McMahan pleas ans wer this lettre as soon as you get this and if thair is eny thing mor that you want to know write and i will tell you i wil Enclose a postage stamp so tha it may not cost you any thing on the letter

When you get it made out Pleas send it to me so that i can send it to him before he gets Eny worse So no mor

Respectfuly Yours

Mrs Mary McMahan

Ansd Aug. 20

Mrs Mary McMahan

Albany Aug 2/62

Wants her husband discharged from the Army -

must apply through com'g officer on [acct of?] of disability &c