F. Sarmiento to Richard Yates

“Private” & Confidential”

Phila Nov 27” 1861

Dear Govonor.

In my absence you Telegraph was recd Mr. McGrath saw fit to answer it in a manner that would lead you to believe every thing was right in refference to our business. Now my dear friend I assure you this is not the case, since the arrival of Gov Wood in this City, which was Yesterday one week, & staid here but part of two days, & started for N. York & was to return in two days as he said, to give us part of the Contract, providing we were lower in other bid than the party in N. York, “this I think were his own words” to viz “ That he would not make any contract in N York until he returned & seen us, which would only have been fair. & in accordance with his own promis, as he had seen all of our samples, & was desidedly pleased with them. & acknowledged that they were superior to the Quatermasters department of this City. We informed him that we were ready to take the contract as it was offered, the whole or part, then he commenced saying, he would give us a small contract to bid for, which we gave him the bids for every thing he put in the schedule, amounting to some Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars,

This with a sample of our Caps, which he requested us to give, to take with him to N. York it being the same cap You saw in Springfield, acknowledged to be superior to his, Our bid was 78 Cts, but give the caps to the same party that had already mod a lot of money, when materials was much lower, & could well make them for the 75 cents, which was altogether rong. as I am satisfied that no living man can make the same cap lower than our bid, & so failed to come up to his promis, which was not to make any contract until he seen us, so with the Horse Equipment, Socks, Blankets &c &c. which he has given out in New York, All this Dear Govonor looks as if though he did not mean or wish to give us any show, I can assure you that he & Mr Hopkins & Butler are closeted together all the time, as they sent for samples of our goods to be sent to the St. [Nikles?] hotel, which was not fair. after seeing them here & then to compare samples against whole pieces which no doubt was at the suggestion of Mr Hopkins, Instead of me sending the samples by express. I sent Dr Filbert our partner in this matter to check [illegible] any such opposations, if such was intended, notwithstanding all these disadvantages against us, our bids were lower than Hopkins by between 30 & 40 thousands Dollars, which was only part of the contract, & had

it been the whole amount as set down in the schedule I brought with me, it would have been a bout a difference of at least from 125 to 150 Thousand Dollars.

Gov Wood acknowledged that he had been [shaved?] & taken in, in his former contracts, Notwithstanding all this, I am afraid our chances are slim, which in my opinion he does not feel disposed to show us any favour, which has proved to be the fact so far, by his giving out part of the contracts in N York, which he promist to give us a fair show for, Instead of staying in N. York two days as he said, eh has already been there a week & over. & dont know when he will return, which makes us feel our chances very slime, notwithstanding our bids being much lower than any of Hopkins bids, & equal in quality of goods, if not superior to any they would furnish. This man Hopkins has a large house in Cincinatta, not a New Yorker as we supposed, as Gov Wood has found out as well as ourselves. Please excuse these facts, but I thought I would give them to You as they have occurred. I conclude with my & my familes highest regards to Mrs Yates, Yourself & children, & do hope You have entirely recovered from that dreadfull wound, dont forget to Kiss Heny, Katy, & little Dickey

for me, with many good wishes, & high regards for Your future welfare, hoping that I may see the time when I can repay You & Your good Lady, for the Kindness shown me when with You, often do I think of them.

I remain Yours Very Respectfully

F Sarmiento.

P.S. If You think it would advisable for You to act in the matter, You can use Your own good Judgement. Please tell Mrs. Yates not to get any new bonnet untill she receive her new dreses.

Yours F.S.

Sarmiento