William H. Ranstead to Richard Yates

HEAD QUARTERS, YATES PHALANX INDEPENDENT REGIMENT.

AUSTIN LIGHT, Colonel. THOS. O. OSBORN, Lieut. Col. FRANK B. MARSHALL, Adjutant. WM. H. RANSTEAD, Major. D.W. TILLINGHAST, Quarter Master.

Chicago Augst 13th 1861.

Honorable Richard Yates

Dear Sir We received a telegram from you this morning assigning Captain Dycks Company from Bloomington to the Yates Phalanx Regiment also ordering the Regiment to rendezvous at Camp Butler. Such has been the opposition to us here that we prefer if consistent to fill up the Regiment here and show to the enemies of the Governor that a full Regiment can move from Chicago with the name of Gov Yates attached Companies beloning to the Yates Phalanx organized in the Northern part of the state have been ordered to report themselves at Chicago We now have three full companies in Barracks and should have had 4 more companies with us Now only for the strong opposition of Dave Steward et al in circulating the report that the Yates Phalanx had gone by the Board from the first that it could not be sustained under the name of the Governor of Illinois Now we ask of you to permit us to fill the Regiment in Chicago not from the first

that we prefer to remain in Chicago by any means only to show these dirty dogs that we can move the Yates Phalanx Regiment fully organized from Chicago The Governor must use his own sound Judgment in the matter If he says go to Camp Butler Camp Butler it is Please let us here from his honor as soon as convenient

Yours very respectfully Wm. H. Ranstead Major, Yates Phalanx

Wm. H. Ranstead as to Yates Phalanx