Mary A. Mitchell to Richard Yates

Empire Mills Ills March 3rd 63

Gov Yates Sir,

Since I wrote you I see by the newspapers as well as by information derived from my Husband, with regard to the Legislature, that it will be out of your power to comply with my request even if it met your [appreciation?] I had quite made up my mind that I must of a necessity settle down to an inactive life repugnant as it would be to my wishes considering the wide field of usefullness now lying waste and which should be filled with a double zeal in this great time

of neede, but it is not a time for us to cease labour, the very fact that faces itself upon me here in quiet life, that the people have become tired of [well doing?] gives me greater cause for grief than anything that I have yet met with, to my understanding there has never been a time requiring so much energy, depend upon it, it is only a great calm before a great storm that will burst upon our own hearthstones this part of the State is now filling daily with deserters both from our Hospitals and the Paroled men taken by our enemies this part of the State is a fit hiding place and if something is not

hastily done to put a stop to it, this part of the County will soon be as formidable as the swamps of MO, they are already whorahing for Deff Davis and union men are getting afraid to speak their sentiments -

but I am straying from my purpose it occurred to me last evening for the first time, to go directly to the President and ask of him a general Agency, it is perhaps a wild scheem, but all that prevents my putting it into immediate practice is ill health, I have been at my sisters in poor health for the past two weeks but am much better, I have no acquaintance with our President, what I wish

from yourself is a formal introduction

I could cary with me a very formidable aray of recommends from the army but do not wish to be under obligation of that kind, I wish to be perfectly free in my actions, to expose [crime?] where ever I find it. you know enough of such thing to understand my motives, I know that you are a personal friend of the President and an introduction from you will be a sufficient guarantee of my personal caracter

hoping to hear from you at an early day I am respectfully

Mary A. Mitchell

Direct to Cairo Ills

Mary A. Mitchell

Cairo Ills March 3 1863

Wishes a letter of introduction to the President is aware that the Governor cannot give her an appointment.