James H. Barrett to Richard Yates

Washington D.C.

April 22d 1863

Hon. Richd Yates

Gov. State of Illinois

Sir: I am in Washington and have incidentally learned that you have been notified of the decission of the War Department in re my application for restoration to the service and that the decission is adverse to my prayer, because the vacancy caused by my removal has been filled. If it is consistent with the public interest and you deem it an act of fair justice to myself, my obligations to you would know no bounds if you would commission me in some of the Illinois Regiments. It is excessively annoying to me to me to be stigmatized as unfit for the position I held and as the stain attaches to me not only for a day but for life I hold it as of the first importance to me to be restored to a command equal to that from which I have been hurled by the false representations of malicious persons

I take the liberty of enclosing a copy of a paper received from the field officers of the 44th Ills Infty

If your Excellency will honor me by a reply it will reach me addressed in care of L. G. Hine Esq Washington D.C.

I am very respectfully

Your obedt Servt.

James H. Barrett

late Capt. Co "H" 44th Ills. Infty.

Ansd Apl. 29-63.

James H Barrett

Washington April 22nd 1863

Has heard of the decesion of the War Department in relation to his restoration as Capt in the 44th Regt. Wishes the Governor to re appoint him Captain in some regiment, one Enclosure

Cannot do so without doing injustice to other Deserving men in regular line of promotion

Recd Ex O. April 28 1863.