P. H. Willard to Richard Yates

with S. Hirshbach letter 12/28/63

Chicago Dc. 25th 1863

Gov.

I left the gay City of N.Y. on the evening of the last sabbath, we passed there together & after a teidous & prolonged trip [illegible] caused by missing my connexions & (nothing more unpleasant to a gentleman) I reached home safely, in the mean time delighted to learn on the car of the Speedy Organization of the House & triumphantly by our friends, which augurs well for the future. to the outsider, the political horizon looks well for the future & our friends generally act as though they meant work & the good of the cause. You having been in their midst & mingled freely with them & an interchange of views are enabled to judge of the future. And how does it look? I trust your visit & that of your family was most pleasant & agreeable & that you found "Uncle Abe" glad to see you & in all respects equal to the emergency. Agreeable to promise I now call your attention to my friend the young man I spoke of to you as wishing at your hands a Complimentary Commission, to enable him to take command of a Colored Company, that of Capt. his name is Edwin B Goodrich, of the Mercantile Battery, & every inch a soldier &

gentleman, & an educated young man, he has influential friends, who are friends of Genl Banks, who are ready to aid him, the moment he is in possession of the needful papers, which you so kindly proffered to me when in N.Y. - Now in Connexion with this I may be trespassing upon Your generosity & kindness, in asking still another favor, which I would not do if I was not satisfied it is deserved, aids the cause, & aids us also in Consolidating & moulding into our political ranks the good & loyal portion of the War Democrats. it this a very promissing young man of our City, by the name of Fred W. King of the Chicago Board of Trade Battery, one of the first to enlist & one of the only two sons of the father, an old and wealthy War Democrat, who goes any length with us, with his tongue & purse, in putting down the Rebellion. The sons drew lots to see which should have the chance of serving his Country & it fell to the lot of Fred & so faithfully & acceptably has he done it that he is in line of promotion, or in other words is wanted to fill a higher post. I think on a Staff & in order to enable him to do so needs at your hand a First Lieut Commission. I have laid the matter before you & should be extremely gratified if you would grant the request & give him the Commission desired. I believe it deserved & be [illegible] in doing much good among

among our old War Democrats. I do not know of any [illegible] man of the kind that I shall call on you for favors of this.- Now if consistent with your views, feelings, & sense of propriety to grant the same, please do so at your earliest convenience. consistent with your Official duties, & send them to me.- Wishing you & yours a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to come, I am very truly

In much haste Your friend

P. H. Willard

Kind regards to Mrs. & Miss Yates

Col Hirshback

Get these commissions to day, Dec 28, 1863 - Hand to me.

Richd Yates

Adjt. Gen. Issue complimentary commission of Captain and of First Lieut. as within requested. Also inform me whether there is any chance to give King a commission in his battery. Richd Yates Gov Dec 28, 1863