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Camp Defiance
June 9th 1861
To His Excellency
Hon Richard Yates
At an interview of the Colonels comdg the 7th 8th 9th 10th & 12th Regiments of Illinois Volunteer Militia called by General B M Prentiss this morning to prepare for the review of the Brigade on Saturday the 8th Inst. It was disclosed to the undersigned by Colonel James D Morgan of the 10th Regt. That He held a commission from you as Col of the 10th Regt which gives Him Seigniority of Rank in the 1st Brigade you will not be astonished when we inform you of our surprise at this mark of favor bestowed by the Govenor of the State of Illinois upon A Colonel who however much His merit may commend itsself to you is the Junior of every one of us by Election and commission, we suppose this apparently unjust discrimination against the undersigned is based upon some misapprehension or mistake of facts, when we know that Col Morgan was Expecting no such mark of Executive favor. But be this as it may, we feel it due to the respect we have ourselves to solicit from you an explanation of the cause of this (be it said with all due respect to the Govenor of the State of Illinois officially and personally) unusual proceeding. we feel in frankness we have the right to do so And to further ask of you if such is your decision upon the Merits of those of us
who have for Several weeks been commissioned by you Colonels In the Service of the United States and have had our respective ranks assigned to us under your Seal while Col Morgan was yet a Lieutennant Col. In the same service. You will we hope appreciate the necessity which we feel compells us to this course. Especially when it is remembered That often having been officially Informed of our Rank we have not received Information from you that any change has been made in the same by your authority. As our future action will be controled by your answer to our inquries we will be obliged to you for an early reply
Most Respectfully your obt servts,
R J Oglesby, Col 8th Regt,
E. A. Paine, Col 9th Regt.,
John Cook Comdg 7th Regt
PS Colonel McArthur of the 12th being absent we have not been able to submit this Letter to Him.
Col. R. J. Oglesby
Ansd