J. McMiller to Richard Yates

St Louis M.O. July 18th 1862

His Exellency Gov. Yates

Govenor

Upon being mustered out of service Co "A" of the 1st Ill Cavalry resolved by a unanimous vote to present their flag to the State of Illinois

In accordance with that resolution I forward it to you. It was presented by the ladies of Bloomington to the Co. on its organization for the U.S. service and has been kept by it up to the present time It floated upon the works at Lexington during those nine memorable days of the seige of that place on the 18th & 19th of Sept it was in that position near Andersons House known as the "Hot corner"

It was struck by upwards of three hundred balls sixty two passing through it When the garrison was surrounded the flag was concealed and carried of by the gallant

Harry C. Carico who had distinguished himself by acts of humanity and daring through the whole time of the seige Upon the reorganization of the regiment many of the Co. hoped to fight under their flag again and bear it proudly aloft until the rebelion was crushed out of existance Others came forward promptly joined the company and filled the places of those who were killed wounded unable or unwilling to return They too were anxious to fight beneath this tattered silken emblem of our nations glory but unfortuneately all were doomed to suffer disappointment Yet all of these men have served their country honestly and faithfully from the day they were mustered in until the day they were mustered out of its service obeying in spirit as well as in letter every order that was given to them In the midst of a

formidable mutiny mocked and jeered at by those who forgot what they had sworn to do and who were encouraged by men who held positions that gave them a powerful influence Tempted by the life of idleness and pleasure which the rebelious ones enjoyed Threatened by an overwhelming force of the Enemy and in hourly expectation of an attack When others discovered their fine sense of "honor" and threw down their arms which brought redoubled labor on these men who were serving For more than two weeks every night and every day upon guard non commissioned officers taking their regular turn of guard as privates in addition to their regular duties without complaint without a murmur of discontent all they asked was that the Government should be notified of their condition that they might be released from their parole They did not desire to dictate to

the government what it should or should not do or when it should do it They knew that to fall in to the hands of the Enemy was to fall into the hands of death and with one voice it was said "they shall never take us alive" They knew that Gen Carters' Command depended upon them for subsistance Should they yield all others who did not but were tempted to join in the mutiny would follow them thereby virtually surrendering to the enemy the line of communication with this city and allowing the supplies of the army to be cut off Governor I am proud of these men and the manner they conducted themselves under such trying circumstances When more or less of every other Company yielded to Sedition and mutinied they were found firm and at their post Although discharged from the service before the expiration of the term of their Enlistment and obliged to share the consequent stigma I think that it is clearly evident to you that these men should not receive this punishment for the faults and crimes of others Yet we can plainly see the neccesity of mustering the whole regiment out at the same time Since the organization of the Co. ten of it have given up their lives for their country twenty have suffered from severe wounds received and thirteen discharged from service on account of diseases contracted in camp and eighty nine mustered out with the regiment I am much indebted to Lt. Jas B Dent for his indominable energy and officer like qualifications that he has displayed on all occasions

I have the honor to remain Your Excellencies Most obedient Servant

J. McNulta

Capt. Co. A 1st Ill. Cav

1st Cav

Captain J McNulta

St Louis July 18 1862

Presents Flag - in behalf of his company - to the State. Gives sketch of duty performed by company since its organization - their faithful discharge of duty, under trying circumstances through which the Regiment has passed &c &c good letter

Ansd Augt 6 M