A. H. Holt to Richard Yates

Head Quarters District of Cairo,

Cairo, Ill. July 21st 1862.

To His Excellency

Richd Yates

Govr of Illinois

Springfield Ills

Governor,

I am informed that the First Regiment of Illinois Cavalry has been mustered out of service. I am therefore left a Lieut Colonel of Ills Vols without being attached to any Regiment and my pay may be stopped any day and I be thrown out of service. This would be very unpleasant to me as I desire to remain in service and do what I can with other loyal men to maintain our National existence and crush out traitors and treason. I also have a large family of sisters who are dependent upon me for support as well as a wife and my means being limited and business in civil life dull I feel that I need all that I can fairly and honestly make and at the same time I am very desirous of serving my country. Gen Strong will leave here about the 1st of August on leave for 60 days. He would have assisted me in procuring from the President the appointment of Additional Aide-de-Camp to some Maj Gen and had me assigned to duty on his staff but Congress has repealed the act authorizing the

the appointment of Additional Aides-de-Camp, therefore an application for an appointment as such would be in vain. As you have been so very kind to me since I have been in service I feel a delicacy in addressing you at this time, feeling that perhaps I am trespassing upon your valuable time, and that my importunities will become to you a bore, but I cannot bear the idea of being laid upon the shelf at this stage of the game, and therefore very respectfully but earnestly request (if it be perfectly consistent with your view of justice and propriety) that I be assigned to one of the Regiments now being raised for three years service. If this cannot be done will you have the kindness to write a letter recommending me for an appointment in the Regular Army and enclose it to me at this place. General Strong will join in the recommendation and present the papers in person at Washington. If you can grant me either of the above requests, I shall feel myself placed under renewed obligations to you and will earnestly strive to prove myself worthy your kind consideration. Please let me hear from you at your earliest convenience.

I have the honor to be

Very Respectfully

Your ob'dt servt

A. H. Holt Lt Col Ills Vols

& A.D.C. to Gen. Strong

A. H. Holt Lt. Col. Ills Vols

Cairo July 21, 62.

Is informed that the 1st Reg Cavalry is must'd out service. Says he's "therefore left a Lt Col of Ills vols without being attached to any Reg't" It will be very unpleasant to have his pay stopped &c. Has large family of sisters to Support. Wants to be assigned to one of new Regts. or recommendation from Gov. for apptmt in Regular Army.

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