[Richard Yates] to Edwin M. Stanton

Western Union Telegraph Company

and the

Illinois & Mississippi Telegraph Company.

Terms and Conditions on which Messages are received by these Companies for Transmission.

The Public are notified, that, in order to guard against mistakes in the transmission of messages, every message of importance ought to be repeated, by being sent back from the station at which it is to be received, to the station from which it is originally sent. Half the usual price for transmission will be charged for repeating the message. Neither of these Companies will be responsible for mistakes or delays in the transmission or delivery of unrepeated messages, from whatever cause they may arise; nor will they be responsible for damages arising from mistakes or delays in the transmission or delivery of a repeated message, beyond an amount exceeding two hundred times the amount paid for sending the message; nor will either Company be responsible for delays arising from interruption in the working of its Telegraphs, nor for any mistake or omission of any other Company over whose lines a message is to be sent, to reach the place of destination. All messages will hereafter be received for transmission, subject to the above conditions.

Send the following Message, subject to the above conditions: Chicago, August 4. 1862

To Hon E. M. Stanton

Sec. of War.

Washington DC.

You telegraphed me that Sargent L. P. Holden, Company .F. 20th Illinois Infantry could be discharged to enable him to raise a Company here. A part of

Hon E M Stanton

Sec of War

Aug 4/62

Discharge of Sergt L P Holden