Samuel Adams to Richard Yates

Private

Illinois College Jan. 27. 1863

Gov. Yates,

Dear Sir,

My son is at home on a sick leave. The state and prospects of his health are such, as to render desirable some change in his relation to the service. Other motives impel him in the same direction. In addressing you on the subject, I cannot make myself fully understood without going back to state some parts in the past, and perhaps extending my letter to a wearisome length. But as you can choose your own time for reading it, it will probably encroach less upon your time than a personal call from me.

When my son went into the service, I solicited for him the post of hospital steward, as you may recollect. While at Camp Butler, and before the election of the officers of the company, he was urged by many of the men of the company to be a candidate for a lieutenancy, and Col. Lippincott has told me, that if Frank had allowed himself to be a candidate, he felt sure he would have secured a majority for one of the lieutenancies, and he thought he would have obtained the first place. In this case he would have been in a position to succeed to the captaincy on the promotion of Col. Lippincott. But Frank declined to be a candidate for a lieutenancy, in deference to an understanding with his parents, that he should seek the position of hospital steward, thus by his filial fidelity losing his first chance for promotion in his company. Thus, his promotion to the first lieutenancy of the company last spring, was only placing him in a position, which he might probably

have occupied six months before, had he felt free to aspire to it.

After receiving his commission, - on account of the state of Capt. Nixon's health and for other reasons, Frank had command of the company much of the time up to the appointment of Capt. Twining. He led a detachment of his company at the battle of Cache River in Arkansas, and Col. Lippincott commended his conduct on that occasion in terms of the highest praise. After reaching Helena, on the Missippi, Hovey's brigade was ordered down the river about twenty five miles to a place called Old Town Landing in a very swampy, sickly region.

Soon after the army arrived on the banks of the Mississippi, Capt. Nixon left, and the second lieutenant and first sergeant were taken sick, and Frank was left in command of the company with all the company business on his hands. During the next six weeks he led his company on frequent scouting expeditions down river and into the states of Mississippi and Arkansas, skirmishing with Mississippi riflemen and guerrillas, sleeping in the open air, unsheltered and unbedded in that sickly season and climate. All this time his health continued robust, while a large portion of the officers of the brigade were on the sick list. The consequence was that those officers whose health did not break down were called to bear proportionally heavier duties. Frank informs me, that he had often to act as officer of the picket guard several times a week, and that on one occasion, he performed that duty every second night for ten days in succession. With such exposure in such a climate and at

such a season, it is not strange, that his turn to be sick came at last. In short, since early in September, he has been disabled from duty much of the time by frequent attacks of bilious remittent fever, one severe attack of dysentery, and a camp diarrhea more or less persistent.

In this state of the case, his mother and sister have urged him strongly to resign. But to this he is entirely opposed, and is planning to return as soon as his health is restored. He is not, however, averse to such a change of position in the service, as would be more compatible with the state of health, than his present position. I am also disposed to favor such a change for reasons, which I will proceed to state.

Through the extreme solicitude of his parents in trying to shape his course for him, Frank lost his first chance of promotion. For this I can blame no one but myself. But through your kindness and that of his superior officers this loss was in part or wholly made up to him six months later. But when the captaincy of the company was likely to become vacant, "the exigences of regimental politics" were thought to require that another should fill the vacancy, and now any aspirations, which he may have indulged in connection with his company or regiment, must wait for the promotion of the youngest captain in the regiment.

Without blaming any one, I am free to say that Frank's position is unfortunate. It is unfortunate, that so good and faithful a soldier, as he has proved himself to be, should stand before the public in a position of seeming disparagement, which

must always attach to a superseded man. It is also unfortunate, that he should have been cut off from those encouragements and prospective rewards, to which the rules and regulations of the service entitle him. All these are needed to cheer and sustain the soldier in the hard service, to which he is called.

I do not forget that both Frank and myself acquiesced in and favored the appointment of Capt.Twining. But this was done at the request of Gen. Hovey and Col. Lippincott; and Frank was so far indebted to them for his first promotion, as to make their wishes his law in the matter. He could not have done otherwise, than he did, without incurring their displeasure, and this he ought by all means to avoid. The same considerations imposed the same obligations on me and ruled my action in the case.

It is proper for me to state that Col. Lippincott assured me, that the recommendation of Twining had nothing to do with any deficiency on the part of Frank; on the contrary Col L. affirmed to me, that Frank was fully competent to command the company in every emergency, to keep order and discipline in camp and on the march, and to lead the company in battle. I am also able to state on the most positive information, that all misunderstanding and disaffection in the company had passed away long before Twinging received his commission, and that it was the general desire of the company, that Frank should succeed to the captaincy.

For the reasons and from the facts stated above,

[Jan 26, 1863]

I regard Frank's present position as somewhat unfortunate. And as I am responsible, in part at least,for his being placed in such a position, I feel that I am under obligation to do what is in my power to relieve him from it. I therefore address you on the subject, without having in my mind any very definite idea of what is practicable in the case, but thinking it probable, that some position may be open to him, where his enfebled health would be less exposed, and where he would be relieved of what is unpleasant in his present position.

Before specifying any position, to which I would recommend him, I would present a statement of such evidences, as have come to my knowledge, of his qualifications, as they have been exhibited by him and recognised by his superior officers during his connection with the military service.

With reference to his business capacity, I would state that, for several months, he performed the duties of apothecary and hospital clerk, to the entire satisfaction of one of the strictest and most particular surgeons in the service. He afterwards acted for several weeks as clerk of a military commission, appointed at Pilot Knob for the trial of a number of Missouri ruffians for crimes against the life and property of union citizens. At the close of this service, he received a high compliment from the Judge Advocate for the manner, in which he had discharged the duties of his appointment. About the last of August, in a general order of the Army of the South West organising a Court Martial of Hovey's brigade, Frank was detailed to act as Judge Advocate,

He was prevented by sickness from performing the duties of this appointment. I only mention it, as indicating the estimate, in which his business capacity was held by his superior officers.

As to his military abilities, I may say, that I have received many testimonials to his skillful ad successful management of his company, while he was in command. He was frequently sent out in command of foraging expeditions, and Col. Lippincott told me that there were but very few officers in the regiment, who conducted such expeditions with such good judgement and success, as he did. As showing the estimate of his military capacity by his superior officers, I would adduce the fact, that, in scouting expeditions, he was frequently placed in the advance with his company as skirmishers. As an instance of still more marked confidence in his trustworthiness, the second night after the battle of Cache River, when the army was encamped near a large force of the enemy, Frank was detailed to command a special guard, placed on the outpost of danger, to prevent a night surprise.

In presenting an application for Frank's promotion, in stead of this long letter I should have laid before you testimonials from the officers of his brigade, if those officers were within convenient reach. As they are not, I have written you in the confidence of friendship, setting forth such facts, as may enable you to judge what those testimonials would be, if they were obtained. With the facts and considerations before you, which I have presented above, if you think my son worthy of promotion to any

position within your gift, or if, having no such gift at your disposal, you should feel free to use your influence in aid of his promotion in some other direction, I believe such a favor to him would be entirely consistent with patriotism, and certainly it would meet a warm appreciation from Frank and his friends.

If there should occur any vacancy in the military administration of the state, which required to be filled with a person of business capacity, you can judge from the above statements, of Frank's qualifications for such a position. You can also judge of his fitness for any military command, which he might appropriately fill.

When my son first entered the service, I did not imitate a custom, unfortunately too prevalent, by urging him into a prominent position, because my conscience would not allow me to seek for him any position, for which I did not feel sure he was qualified. But since he has been tried, I should not hesitate to recommend him to any position up to that of the command of a regiment. I do not ask for any such promotion for him. I am only expressing my estimate of his merits and abilities.

If there should be no position, within your gift suitable for him, I have thought of the position of Assistant Adjutant General to some of the new Brigadiers about to be appointed. I think he is well qualified for such a position; and the duties of this office would involve less exposure of his health, than the one he now occupies. If it seems best to make a move this direction some

body must recommend him to the President or Secretary of War; and I would hope to be able to rely on your influence in that quarter.

If you should think the object of this letter worthy of anything more than a passing notice, I would beg to refer you to Prof. Bateman, who knows Frank more intimately, than any other person out of the family. Frank's health is so far restored, that he could visit Springfield, if his presence should be thought desirable.

The foregoing is submitted to your consideration without the intention of asserting any especial claim on your attention, and with a readiness to acquiesce in whatever decision you may come to.

Very Respectfully Yours

Samuel Adams.

Hon. Richard Yates.

Samuel H. Adams

Illinois College

Requests the promotion of his son to some suitable position within your gift. Thinks him capable of holding any position. Has once served as Cap of a Co. Wishes his son to have some office where his health will be little exposed. Is now home on sick leave.

I can hardly do justice to the enclosed, as it is quite lengthy and impossible to embody the ideas in a few words.

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