Martin H. Cassell to Richard Yates

St Nicholas Hotel. N.Y. Novr. 23Rd 1861

Dear Gov. When I answered your dispatch the other day I was not prepared to answer as specifically as I can now write, for the reason that we had not opened or compared the bids for supplies of clothing whilst at Philadelphia. We made out a list of army clothing, amounting in the aggregate to say Five hundred Thousand Dollars, embracing most of the articles furnished to troops. But in less quantities than indicated by the statement furnish you by the Q.M Department which you sent to Govr Wood We furnished Mssrs Sarmiento & Co. with a copy of the list and waited in Philadelphia two days for them to figure on it. We then came here and furnished Mssrs Cole & Hopkins with a copy. Mr Hopkins was very much surprised that we were inviting competition. And said we should just figure with him and treat him as the agent of Illinois and let him go on and supply our troops through the War, but Govr Wood said no, you must meet honorable competition and figure the matter down and if you are the lowest bidders on these articles you shall have the contract otherwise I cannot give it to you. Hopkins then prepared his proposal and handed it in. We have opened the bids and in almost every article he is much above the Philadelphia House. And in the

aggregate there is a difference of 30, or 40,000$ between the bids and in favor of the Philadelphia concern. We were surprised at the result and have sent to Phila for Samples of goods proposed upon by Sarmiento & Co and I have no doubt that they will compare favorably with the goods here. Mr Hopkins is very much disappointed – he evidently did not expect to be out bid. As he was or even did not expect we would invite any Competition I dont know what amount of goods Govr Wood will contract for or whether he will make any contracts at all whilst here. But if he does I cant see how he can fail to give Sarmiento a good large amount.

The condition of our finances at home and the failure of Mr Butler to sell our Bonds in connection with the little encouragement we received from Mr Secretary Chase at Washington makes it a matter of doubt with me whether it is safe to advise the making very heavy contracts by the State -- by the way Mr Thomas Campbell was to remain at Washington to urge the money matter upon the attention of Mr Chase and you ought to write to Campbell about our pressing necessities. The Sabres for Cols. Kellogg & Cavanaugh have been shipped from here since I came, and I have the promise of Maj Wagner ordnance officer here that the Pistols for Col Kellogg & Carbines for Cavanaugh shall be sent as soon as they can be purchased. He is buying all that are offered and I have not doubt they will be furnished in a few days.

Your friend Martin H. Cassell

I will be home next Saturday