C. M. Provost to Richard Yates

Head Quarters Draft Rendezvous

Camp Butler Illinois

December 27th 1864

Honl Richd Yates

Governor of Illinois

Springfield

Governor

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 21st inst, just received this PM requesting a Statement of the number of volunteers, Drafted and Substitute Recruits received at this Rendezvous, with a Statement in tabular form, by Regiments, designating counties and Districts from whence the men were recruited or drafted.

In reply I beg leave to state that in consequence of the incomplete condition of our records at the present moment, and the urgent orders of the War Department to transfer men as rapidly as possible to the front, I fear that I cannot furnish the required information as complete as you require in the

short time now remaining before the meeting of the Legislature.

Had I received your request at the date of your letter, I might have been able to have given you, a statement of the number received under the Call of July 18th by Districts, but to make out as full a report as you wish, would occupy the time of any two clerks in my office at least ten days.

I can give you the aggregate receipts, and also of transfers made to different Regiments by order of the War Department, and the total number of Volunteers transferred to Regiments during the past six months, but to classify them would be an impossibility at present.

Regretting my inability to accomodate you

I am Governor

Very Respectfully

Your Obt Servt

C M Provost

Col 16th Reg [ORC?]

Comd, Dft Rendezvous

Provost, Col. C. M

Comd'g. Dft Rendevous

Camp Butler Dec 27/64

In reply to your letter of 21st inst. Cannot give the information in a very short time