Richard Yates to Edwin Stanton

With John Pope letter 8/22/64

(No. 1.) ILLINOIS & MISSISSIPPI TELEGRAPH COMPANY, Terms and Conditions on which Messages are received by this Company for Transmission: THE PUBLIC are notified, that, in order to guard against mistakes in the transmission of messages, every message of importance ought to be repeated, by being sent back from the station at which it is to be received, to the station from which it is originally sent. Half the usual price for transmission will be charged for repeating the message. This Company will not be responsible for mistakes or delays in the transmission or delivery of unrepeated messages, from whatever cause they may arise; nor will it be responsible for damages arising from mistakes or delays in the transmission or delivery of a repeated message, beyond an amount exceeding two hundred times the amount paid for sending the message; neither will this Company be responsible for delays arising from interruption in the working of its Telegraphs, nor for any mistake or omission of any other company over whose lines a message is to be sent, to reach the place of destination. All messages will hereafter be received for transmission, subject to the above conditions.

Send the following Message, subject to the above conditions:

August 29th, 1864

Hon. E.W. Stanton Sec. of War Washington D.C.

Should Brig Gen Paine be relieved or resign his place as District Commander for Ills, please appoint Brig. Gen. John Cook in his stead. He resides here and is well adapted to the place.

Richd Yates Governor