PATTERSON, March 5, 1865.
Brigadier-General EWING,
Commanding District of Saint Louis:
SIR: I wish to call your attention to matters down the river. For the last two years the guerrillas have procured more or less contraband goods from Illinois, and Chester had been their principal point. This winter many of the worst men in Southeast Missouri have gone into Illinois to winter, and from all I can learn they are passing frequently from Missouri and Arkansas to Illinois and back again. They procure arms, ammunition, clothing, & c. A large portion of the horses stolen from Missouri are taken to Chester and sold and find their way to the Saint Louis market. William C. Polly, a man who left this county to keep us from killing him, has a livery stable in Chester, and without doubt is in league with the guerrillas. I think this matter should be attended to, and I would like to do it. I can take the men from here necessary to do the work. General, come down to Patterson if you can. I wish you to look around here some and see. If the Iron Mountain Railroad comes through here (which it will) I know of no place which presents so good a chance for profits as this. I wish you would come down and see what you think of the prospects. We have heard here that you are coming down with the inspecting officer when he comes.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. T. LEEPER.

Jack