D. H. Slagle to Richard Yates

Camp 39th Illinois Vounteers.

Before Petersburg, Va. Sep. 10. 1864

Gov. Yates.

Dear Sir.

Pardon me if this is intruding upon your time which is no doubt occupied with business of more importance. My business is for others, more deeply concerned

Com. men that enlisted in August 1862 as recruits. to fill up old regiments under the Presidents call of that year for six hundred thousand. be mustered out this fall. at the expiration of the original three years of service. and where the regiment has reenlisted. If they cannot, there are several in the Reg. that claim they have been wronged: in regard to the way they were recruited and can make false enlistment &c.

Was detailed on recruiting service aug, 1862. had verbal orders from Capt Philips and Lieut Savage. that were said to come from Col Morrison who was then Supt of recruiting service. to encourage enlistment and to enlist men for the unexpired time of the Reg. all men so enlisting would receive $100 bounty. 25 in advance and to be mustered out when the Regiments were, at the time there was better enducements for some to go in new Regiments and take a large county bounty then offered But some men thought that the difference of time to serve by going in an old regiment would be an offsett against the bounty then offered by the state and counties. But the cases that I am speaking for are these I enlisted James S. Hendrix and Anthony Farrance

in aug. 1862. and the conditions that they enlisted. were that they should be mustered out the 11th day of oct. 1864, the time the regiment would of been mustered out had they not reenlisted. I had orders from my superiors officers then to enlist men on such conditions, now these men claim that they should be mustered out this 11th oct. as they were deprived the privilege of reenlisting as veterans last winter. if they cannot be mustered out they claim they can make a false enlistment. their papers were made out like all others for three years for we could not and there was no orders to enlist men for less than the above time, only to enlist them as recruits and to be mustered out with the regiments

Slgle, D H

Soldier

I have heard that such orders were only applicable to Mass. state troops. if so the men have been wronged hoping that this case may be looked into I close by subscribing myself your most obedient

Servant

D. H. Slagle

Address. Co K 39th Ill Volunteers

Before Petersburg Va

Ansd Oct 11th 64

Porter,