George W. Long to Richard Yates

Alton September 8th 1861

To His Excellency Govr Yates

Public Opinion demanding for Army Service the Graduates of United States Military Academy, I hereby tender my services, as one with the Ill. Volunteers, - a Station being offered fitting my experience in military matters - compared with other appointments -- I make the following extract from Capt Cullums Register of Officers and Graduates of the U. S. M. Academy - Edn of 1850 - viz "George W. Long Promoted Bat 2nd Lieut, 1st Artillery July 1st 1824 - 2nd Lieut 4th Artillery July 1st 1824 - Instructor of Mathematics Artillery School of Practice Fort Monroe Va 1825-26 - Acting Asst Professor of Natural Experimental Philosophy Military Academy from Aug 1st 1828 to Feby 1st 1829 - First Lieut Feby 2nd 1832 - Resigned Dec 31st 1835 - Chief Engineer of Louisiana from 1835 to 1838 -

Including four years cadetship, you can perceive that my connection with the Army was Sixteen and a half years - during which I served in the arms of Artillery, Infantry, Ordinance, Commissary, Quartermaster, Topographical & Military Engineers - the latter embracing near six years of the last of my Military life -- Since residing in this State now exceeding twenty-five years I have at sundry times been engaged in civil engineering the last of which was on the U.S. [illegible] of the [Ill. River?] in connection with your townsman Geo. A. Dunlap Esqr as you may bear in mind -

I am no political Engineer nor shall I resort now to their fashions for office, but should the above simple narative be deemed a suitable warrant for you to confer such on one as indicated here, i can but promise my best energies to make it creditable -

Respectfully your Obt Servt

George W. Long

Geo W Long

Alton

West Point man for position