W. De B. Morrill

Head-Quarters Military Agent Western Department. Louisville, Ky, August 17th 1865

Hon. Richard Yates, M.C. Jacksonville, Ill.

Dear Sir,

Your favor of the 12th inst. in reply to my application for Chaplain McNeill is this day received. Also the inclosure, your speeches. For the last, accept my warmest thanks. I have never read a poor speech yet from the same author, and I have never read two which have given me greater pleasure than these I have just read. In your speech at Jacksonville, your thrilling sentences ring like a [bright?] blast, til in the reading, I felt every nerve in my body tingle. I can only wish I could have heard your voice pronounce those noble [illegible].

I hope I may yet enjoy the pleasure (it may be next winter) of listening to you.

For your kind accession to my request for our dear good McNeill, I give you a thousand thanks, on his behalf, as well as my own. He is a noble

man, and dear sir, you have no truer friend or warmer supporter living, than is he. He has been a noble friend to our soldiers here, and for that I love him.

It is through you, sir, indirectly it is true, but it is through you, that I have the position I now occupy.

And from from my heart, I thank you, for I am in a position to do more [real?] good in one week, than I could otherwise do in almost a lifetime. I do not say that I do it, but, I have the opportunity. Had I never received a commission from his Excellency Governor Yates, I should have had this opportunity.

I try to improve it.

Of one thing permit me to assure you, it is the love of the noblest of the noble, the bravest of the brave - the Illinois soldiers. Thousands have passed through my hands here, and the word 'love' best

expresses the universal sentiment and hold you have upon their hearts. They know and love you as the soldier's friend. The opportunity will present itself in the halls of Congress, when you can do much for these men, who have stood for four long years, with glistening bayonets, like a wall of fire, between dissolution of the South, and our own happy hearth stones, you can be a power for good to these men. I need to ask you to do it.

Among many flattering notices of my humble services, which find their way into the papers, I have cut one which I inclose, because you will know its worth, knowing its author.

Please accept the assurance on my highest regard, and in the future as in the past, my humble, but nonfailing support.

Ever and truly yours,

W. D. B. Morrill