A. D. Cropsey to Richard Yates

Gallatin Tenn June 20th 1863

Sir - The great interest you take in everything tending to the success of the Union Cause, and your influence at Head Quarters induce me to Call your attention to the want of proper weapons in some of the Illinois regiments. As an example, -most of the active duty that our regiment has done, has been scouting along the rail road after guerillas. They are generally armed with a carbine or shot guns and two good revolvers, our men, (some of them acting as mounted infantry) with a musket and a iron one at that, not reliable at over 150 yards. Their weapons, in guerilla fighting at least, are far the best.

For a nation with a superabundance of means to send out troops with inefficient weapons is ruinous to the nation, and wholesale murder for the men. If one half or even a quarter of our armies were armed with a good revolving rifle, and a couple of heavy revolvers, one regiment would be equal to three or four as at present armed, and if then mounted so they could move with rapidity (but if fighting on foot) more could be done in two months than has been done in two years. But be this as it may, there

is no excuse for permitting union troops to meet rebels at a disadvantage in arms. Col Case made applications at department head Quarters for a better weapon, for our mounted men at least, the reply was that they had not got them.

With all due deference to great military men I have no doubt that fifty millions of Dollars invested in the most efficient weapons, would do more to bring the rebellion to its end, than ten times the amount invested in praying and feeding troops armed with inefficient weapons.

If you can do anything to remedy this I think it would be a great benifit to the national Cause.

We are all delighted at the easy method by which you got our legislature out of difficulty when it was unable to adjourn.

Yours truly,

A.D. Cropsey

File "C"

Cropsey A J

Gallatin Tenn June 20 63

Wishes to call the Governors attention to the want of proper arms in some of our Illinois Regiments. Says the guarellas are generally armed with a Shotgun, carbine and two revolvers, while our men are armed with poor musket it is ruinous to the nation and wholesale murder for the men Hopes the Governor will do something to remedy this.

Recd Ex O June 25th 63