John A. Bross to Richard Yates

His Excellency Richard

His Excellency Richard Yates

Governor of Illinois

Sir!

I have the honor to report that there are now in Camp at Quincy four full Companies of Eighty men Each recruited for the "29th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops". There are also parts of two others in Camp at the same place, being nearly Six Companies in all.

I beg leave to suggest to your Excellency that these full Companies should have their Officers appointed, and be organized and mustered without delay.

They have been recruited in a similar manner as those of "White Troops". Young men of Character and ability have been selected who possessed the Confidence of Colored men. They have spent time and money in getting these free Colored men to Enlist. Obstacles have been overcome by them which do not Exist in other states.

Your Excellency will pardon me for Expressing the opinion, which is doubtless known by you to be fact, that these Companies Could not have been Enlisted Except through the influence of individuals in whom the free Colored Men

(over)

of our State placed implicit Confidence

I beg leave to refer to Messrs Brown, Aiken, Taylor, Daggett, Porter, & Knopp (named below for positions) as particularly deserving of mention and commendation. To them I am mainly indebted for the success I have met with thus far. I am Confident the best interests of the regiment will be promoted if your Excellency will secure the appointment of these gentlemen and others to be associated with them to the positions hereunder named.

Captains. 1. T. Jeff. Brown. Late Adjt 50th Ill Infty

2. Hector H. Aiken Chicago Board of [Lode?] Battery

3. George R. Taylor [Citizen?], late Lt 500th regt Ill Infty

4. Willard E. Daggett. [Paste?] 24th Wis. Infty

1st Lts 1. Robert Porter - Citizen.

2. William B. Gale - Board of T. Battery

3. A. C. Knopp. Sergt - Ill. Infty -

4. Alex S Hatch Pr 11th Ills Inft -

2d Lts 1. Isaac A. Strickler - [Citizen?]

2. Fred A. Chapman - Board of T. Battery

3. Henry Miller - 77th Ill Infty

Appointed 2d [illegible] 4 John J. Casper 8th Ill Cavalry

I have the honor to

be very respectfully your obt servt

John A. Bross

Capt 88th Ill Infty, [Recty?]

29th Rest U.S. Colored Troops

Chicago March 9th 1864.

Bross. John A

Chicago. Mch 9. 64

OF Colored Troops