William L. Church to Richard Yates

Office of the Circuit Clerk & Recorder of Cook County.

Chicago Dec 9 1864

Dear Governor.

I herewith Enclose the substance of a Letter that I desire you to have Copied and sign it, if you can do so Consistently.

The facts are these, the young man Wait was my Cashier for about six years, a smart active fellow and when the war broke out, he left a young beautiful Wife and one Child for the service, some Eighteen Months ago he received an Ensigns Commission and since then has been Acting in that Capacity on the Mississippi, about the last of October he received Letters from Chicago informing him that his wife was unfaithful, and advizing him to return home immediately, his Officer in Command Could not give him a leave, but sent him from the Mouth of Red River to Cairo to Rear Admiral Lee

for his leave, when he arrived at Cairo he learned that the admiral had gone up to Paduca, he did not go to Mound City at all, but came directly to Chicago, and reported to the Admiral from here, he has not seen the Admiral at all, but on writing to a friend immediately on his arrival here he was advized to go immediately to Mound City, he did so and reported to the Comodore who informed him that the least penalty he would get would be disgrace and to serve as a Common sailor for the balance of his term, his friends think that with a friend to go to Washington with your Letter, & others from Citizens here making a full Explanation to Mr Arnold that Secy Wells will be induced to accept his resignation, and save him from this disgrace, he is a good fellow young and brave and loves his wife and baby, if you can sign this Letter do so and return to me by first mail

Yours Truly

Wm. L. Church

Have just recieved your dispatch to Meet Judge Miller at Tremont, Will be there, Mart C is here,

Attended to

File

Church Wm L

Chicago Dec. 9. 1864

Wants you to give a young man a letter to Sect'y Welles

Attended to