Richard B. Avery to Richard Yates

Headquarters 11th Cavalry, 126th Regiment Indiana Vols.,

Camp at Larkinsville, Ala.

June 14th, 1864

Your Excellency:

I received your letter yesterday, and hasten to answer. I do not know that I can claim the credit for the suggestion to do you justice for your courage in the present rebellion. I can claim only the hopefulness, the faith, in the soldier's idea of right, and willingness to stand by those who have stood his firm friends during the terrible storm, which is to make the suggestion of some service. I am sanguine of success. Since I write to you I have only felt of the ground ahead, have sounded several, in fact a great many Illinois soldiers in regard to the matter, and have not found one who was not anxious to contribute to such an object, and who did not believe with me that a [fund?] might easily be raised which would be an honor to themselves, and raise a monument, lasting as time, to your patriotism and efforts in behalf of the defenders of the country, if any one could be got to make an effort to this end.

This I shall do. I am perfectly satisfied with my position in the Army. If I had considered myself fit-competent to hold a commission and faithfully and fairly perform the duty of a commissioned officer I should have enlisted as such. I have no end to hope for in this matter but success. That I intend to have. I have never thought, Governor, that you would seek such a proof of our confidence in you as we propose to give; but I feel certain that, as we are determined to give it, you will render us such assistance as will enable us to make the proof worthy of ourselves. This, I feel certain, will not be considered improper by you.

You will please send me here a copy of your Adjt General's last report, to enable me to address Commanders, sending them blanks. I believe by next November a fund can be raised, never felt by the soldier, and at which we will both be surprised. I am only at a loss to Know whose hands the subscriptions should be entrusted into as it is paid in. It will not do to place it in the hands of the Repub. State executive Committee, for that

would give it a political coloring which we particularly desire to avoid. We offer a merited compliment from patriot soldiers to a patriot friend. Nothing more. With his politics we have nothing to do. The First National Bank at Springfield will do for a depositary for the Time.

I should not have written the first letter to you, but I Knew that within one week after the blanks were put in circulation the new would reach you, and thought it would be best to advise you of the matter there. As I received no answer for so long I began to fear you were displeased with the offer or rather the suggestion.

Please send me the Adjt Gen'ls report, and any other information which will assist me in reaching the Commanders of Regts. The balance I will do.

I will send a copy of the heading for the subscription papers to the Proprietor of the Springfield Journal, and see what they will charge me for 2,000 copies.

I have the honor to be Governor, with hopes that this effort may succeed equal to

your merits, and beyond any expectations

Respectfully

Your Obt. Servt

Richard B. Avery

Richd B Avery

Private Letter

A Yates Memorial Fund