John Tilson to Richard Yates

[Holdens?] 3d Brig 7th Div 17th Ala.

Near Villanova Ga Oct 17th 1864

Gov. Yates

Dear Sir

You were kind enough

to propose advancing my claims to promo

tion and I am earnestly solicitous that

the same be done now. My reputation &

pride seem involved in the matter to

which heretofore I have been comparatively

indifferent. I have been serving from

the commencement of the war zealously &

efficiently. Among my associate officers

I have no hesitation in saying that I

have stood ahead of most in capacity &

acquirement. I was recommended (not

at my suggestion) nearly two years ago

by a large body of officers - including

all the field officers of the Division to

which I belonged many of them my

seniors in rank. I find officers

who have served under me, came

into service long afterward, with

generally admitted inferiority - promoted

I am the oldest Field officer from Ill.

(tho not the oldest Col.) - The mean

envy of Gen'l Morgan has tried to keep

me back as he has tried with all

of the gentleman and earnest war

men under him. He has passed

over Col Smith & Col [name] both

popular. [name?] [commenced? commands?] [illegible]

me as far as he could - got Col [name]

ordered back to his regular command

to pave the way for the appoint

ment of Col Anderson the junior of

the whole and only because his

name was not signed to the paper

requesting change from Morgan's

command to which all the others

assented - & Anderson at the time

favored, but being already in the

drawing up of the paper his Lt Col

signed it. Col Anderson is a red-

hot malignant McLellun man -

cannot use too violent language

in denunciation of this "nigger [illegible]

war" and is the only officer of rank

who openly claims his influence against

the administration. He has got the

60th Ill his Regt divided in sentiment

by his persistent action & influence -

I am on warm & cordial terms

with him - but if my junior with

inferior military claims - lefs service

capacity acquirement - and bitterly hos

tile to the Government is to be thus

favored while the capable zealous

uncompromising unconditional war

man is jumped I am out -

Again only last week I had

to report to a Brevet Brig Gen'l

Raum who came into service

long after I did - is so small

a [pattern?] of a man - that at

a very critical time when the

Rebs were [illegible] up to Resacca

having taken Dalton and Calhoun

on either side - I by a night march

reached Resacca - the whole actual

responsibility of the defence fell on

Col Watkins & myself - he assaying

the Defences about as we chose - while

the Gen'l a good clever fellow I

think) was all day occupied in

moving wagons around where the

shells would not touch them -

I do not speak of these things to

throw any shade on Gen'l Anderson

or Gen'l Raums credit - but this

moving up of young and inferior

men is not right and where as

in my case a special intention

is [arrived?] of keeping me degraded

I call upon my friends to aid

me in an advance that I had

a fair showing of right for before

I dont want any [illegible]

but a Brigadier's commission with

a date back sufficient to put me

over those of the last six [months?]

I have written plainly & freely

tho in haste and not as clearly

as I might but my time is hurried

I did not say too much when

alluded to my relative position among

my Brother officers - for Gen'l Morgan

himself with all his meannefs has at

all times had to say and has giv

en on all occasions practical illustration

of his thinking so. That I was the

most capable officer under his command-

I am now in a pleasant

position with gentlemen and ca

pable surrounding officers but

this thing begins to rankle - when I

find juniors [illegible] over me all

around & that I am almost the

oldest Col in the army of the Tennefsee

and that a Col of even two years

standing is considered [illegible]

When I embark on a course I hang

on long - but I shall quit when my

pride is affected by the [overt? laughing?]

of my rights in favor of feeble &

hostile men. I hope and be

believe that Illinois is coming out

all right this Fall - I know [illegible]

[illegible] however - as we have had no

mail for 20 days -

Wishing you every succefs - I

remain your friend

John Tillson

Near Galesville Al. Oct 26 1864

Gov Yates

Dear Sir. I wrote you a few days ago

urging the effort for my promotion to be

made. As communication is uncertain I

write you again lest the other letter

be delayed. I am very anxious to get

the star. I believe myself entitled to

it. I have stood back and aided others

to advancement to be repaid by ingrati

tude - have been kept in a place where

I could have little chance of rise by the

very man I mainly set up & now he

announces that I must not be promo

ted - although he personally owned me

to be his best officer. I refer to Gen'l

Morgan. However I have but time

to say a word. We write by snatches now.

I will write more at length on first

chance. Hoping for your succefs in the

coming elections - the premonitory [symptoms?]

from Ind. & Ohio having just been made known

to us - I remain Yours Most Truly John Tillson

Tilson Col. Inv.

Galesville Ala Oct 21 last

Writes in referrence to his

promotion to Brig Genl.

He has stood back and

never app'd for it while

others of less merit have

been promoted. He thinks

he deserves it.

Referrs to Gen Morgan

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