James A. Barrett to Richard Yates

Springfield Mo. June 18th 1862

His Ex. Richd Yates

Gov. State of Ills.

Sir

Some time ago prompted by what I conceived to be a sense of duty, I tendered my resignation as Col. of the 10th Ills Cavalry: A position that I recd at your hand and for which I shall every feel grateful. Lest you may feel inclined to impute other than good motives for the step I have concluded to write you in explanation.

You have not forgotten I suppose that I made my proposition to the War Department (at the suggestion of Col Baker) to raise a Regmt. of Cavalry to take the place of the Regulars then being called in from the Frontier & proposing to get it up exclusively for that service - was accepted on my own terms subject to your approval, which approval was promptly given by commissioning me at once.

Afterwards when I had six companies already in Camp for fear that this might be ground for misunderstanding I obtained your permission to visit

Washington (which I did in company with yourself) to see President Lincoln & frankly inform him what I was doing & to obtain a definite approval from him to enlist my men on condition that their field of service would be on the Frontier.

He took me to the Secretary of War & informed him how I was enlisting my men; the Secretary answered by saying that the Governmt had the service for [me?] there & would continue to have it & hence the condition made no material difference and directed me to go on & raise my Regmt. that he intended "to farm out Utah to me" to use his own expression.

Relying upon assurances coming from so high a quarter I thought I had a perfect right to enlist men in that way & so announced it in every leading Newspaper in the West. I informed Genl Halleck of the facts at St Louis & requested him if in his power to send us where we were plainly accepted to go. He thought proper not to comply although troops were needed at the time on the Frontier very much for on the same day that I was ordered with my command to Report to Genl Curtis the 6th Ohio was ordered to the Plains much against their wishes.

The result is that I have been made to muster a large Regmt of men into the service under false pretenses and under such circumstances

cant expect to command the Respect & confidence of the officers or men.

This in connection with the fact that Genl Fuller (for what reason I know not) had advised Genl Curtis in advance of me, that my loyalty was suspected & I must be watched, will afford ample reason for my course.

I quit the service Reluctantly & would have been glad to have remained long enough to have had an oppty to test my loyalty & to put to blush these foul insinuations

My resignation has given cause for still greater dissatisfaction in my Regmt. more particularly among the noncommissioned officers & men. From the present feeling that seems to prevail throughout the Regmt. I doubt its capacity to do much good in this direction & would Respectfully ask your kind interposition for them in either procuring service for them where they were accepted to go or else to have them mustered out of service

Please pardon me for writing you so at length but I feel anxious to set my-self right with you whom I have ever held in such high esteem

Yours Most truly

James A Barrett

James A. Barrett

late Col 10th I Cavalry

Springfield Mo

June 18, 62

Explaining reasons why he tendered his resignation a position recd from your hands & for which will ever feel greatful His proposition to the War Dept for a Frontier Regt 6 cos in Camp-grounds for misunderstanding - visit to Washington. reports to Genl Halleck. trouble. Musters a large number of men in, under false pretences, Adjt Genl F. [writes?] Genl Curtis of his disloyalty quits the service reluctantly resignation gives dissatisfaction among non com officers - either to procure service for them where they want to go or have them mustered out of service.

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