Joseph Medill to Richard Yates

The Tribune.

Thursday, July 17, 1862.

Two Illinois Regiments.

We begin to fear that it is almost hopeless to call on the constituted authorities to give any thing like vigor and efficiency to military movement in the districts under command of Don Carlos Buell and men of his kidney. The continuance of such sticks in place, after they have demonstrated their worthlessness, is a confession that the war is to be carried on as it has been carried on heretofore, and that the vigor and courage of the Republic are to be frittered away in the objectless duties which these slave-worshipers impose upon their men. But we can at least hope that our Illinois troops, now under Buell, may be ordered to another field where they will have a chance to meet the foe, and where their exertions for the Union may not be confined to the guarding of the chicken-roosts and truck patches of their rebel enemies. Two of the best regiments that Illinois has sent into the service-- the 19th and the 24th --made up of as good material as can be found anywhere – are now under the grievous weight of Don Carlo's displeasure; are broken up into squads of twenty men each, and are scattered, or are to be scattered, along 150 miles of railroad, to guard the track, stop leaks in water tanks, and keep rebel geese from being run over by the trains-- a kind of service that new recruits can best perform, and that is intentionally disgraceful to have who have been a year in the field. For this purpose these regiments were taken from the front where they have been from the beginning, and were sent to the rear. Their offense is a grave suspicion on the part of Gen. Buell that they do not love slavery and hate secession—that they are inclined to wage war as if in an enemy's country.

Tribune Office.

Chicago, Ill., July 19 1862.

Gov Yates

Dr Sir

Can you do anything by which our Chicago 19th and 24th regiments can escape from the clutches of that [illegible] tyrant Buel. I really don't believe that he is half loyal. Gen Turchin when he is persecuting is ten times a better military man and a thousand time a better unionist.

Yours truly

J. Medill

J. Medill

Chicago July 19.62.

Encloses editorial paragraph from “Tribune” and asks if Gov Yates can do anything to enable the 19th & 24th Regts “to escape the clutches of the tyrant Buell”

ansd Augt 2 m