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Head Quarters 7th So Ca Cavalry
Decr 9th 1864.
I am not at all inclined to let
my friend Lt M.- leave camp for Old Church
without a single line to say why I too do not
accompany him, and especially as I had intended
doing so fully. I can only explain it by saying
that it has been determined by "the Powers that
be" that such important personages as he
& myself (!) can not be spared from the command
at the same time. (Do you not congratulate me
on my accession to such importance?)
and consequently this fact precludes the
possibility of all such arrangements.
The Lieut is intrusted with messages.
I hope he will prove more faithful in
their delivery than does friend T. usually.
I need not say the disappointment is
a great one. – You can sympathize with
me perhaps in my loneliness. And when
you are told how peculiarly unfortunate
I have been you will certainly condole
with me. (Ask the Lt. to describe the
grand conflagration in camp this a m.
in which I became principal suffered)