J. W. Shaffer to Richard Yates

Jefferson City Sept 26 1861

Dear Govenor

We arrived here yesterday morning from Rolla. Freemont first ordered Hunter to Rolla when he stayed a few days when he was ordered here not to take command but to await further orders which he is doing and while he is doing so Price I calculate will fall back and make his escape. Freemont has intended coming here himself to take command but I dont believe he will nor will he allow Hunter to do anything I am clearly of the Opinion that Freemont has not the ability to mange this department. He is first rushing his Troops to one point and then another while the Enemy is [overruning?] the whole county and unless there is a change the first of January will find all the Troops in Missouri I am heartily sick & disgusted and I now Say to you that Illinois owes it to her Troops to begin making

[at side]: J.W. Shaffer

making a fuss about it, and I have no hopes of there being any change for the better untill Freemont is suspended. I wish to God I had taken your adice and accepted a Regiment I then would have been in a position where I could of done some good by taking care of 1000 Ills Troops but as I am situated I can only look on and see things go to the devil without any power to do any good.

I have no authority to do any thing the Quarter Masters department is run in such a manner in the state that whoever has any position in it will be cursed. Yesterday a couple of Palmers men were killed & a number wounded and a larger amount of mules & other property destroyed and all for the want of some person to take charge of the Transportation that knew how Railroads should be run There should be at least 20 first Class Railroad men employed

on these Roads to run them. This is only the beginning of a series of accidents that must happen as the men in charge know nothing about Railroad business. I am about ready to curse the Adminstratn for not making a change here when it knows that every thing is going to the Devil. If during the Fall you should see a chance to give me a Regiment without interfering with your other arrangements and it would be entirely satisfactory to all partes concerned I would be glad to accept it as I am sattisfied I could do better by a Regiment then most of the Cols who are at the Head of Ills Regiments, and I have about given up all hope of Doing anything where I am. But understand I Dont want you to give me a Regiment unless you can do it just as easy as not for I know how you are situated and I would take

no position that would not be entirely agreeable to all our Friends and especially to those that surround you. I am in no particular hurry and would not leave Hunter if he was in a position to do any thing and would not leave him at any rate unless he was entirely willing which he is. I would not feel so bad about matters did I not know that I could take any branch of the Quartermasters Department in this state and run it up to the handle and do the service some good. But the whole concern is run by a [Sett?] that by God dont know enough about business to manage a Saw Mill. But there is no use in talking. We must stand it until the Administratn sees fit to put somebody here that knows something.

I wish you would write me a letter and let me know how you are getting along as I am anxious to know how things are going as I often think of you

Truly Your Friend

J W Shaffer