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Greenfield, Mass. Tuesday, August 10, 1869.

Dear General,

                           There must be great irregularities in the mails between this place and Camp Witchita or Fort Sill, as upon  returning from Boston a few days ago I found your letters dated June 26 and July 21, had arrived here together, during the week I was absent, and some I my letters to you must have gone astray, as since writing at Fort Smith, May 21, I wrote from here June 6th, as well as from VA. June 22nd.   I have not [underline] written to you since June 22 because I have been travelling a great portion of the time and have had just nothing to tell.  But I have sent notes to Woodward, usually brief, on the 25th May, 2nd June, 4th July and 3rd August.  Two or three times I have been favored with the sight of Woodward writing, but a very few [2 words underline] lines each time.   You are the only officer I have succeeded in getting letters from, and I am really indebted to Sgt. Geo. H. Brown for news letters.  Altogether I have not had too much information of the affairs at the Mountains.   Many thanks for your contributions.
    Even at this late day I can give you very little information as to what I am going to do.  I have decided yet on only one thing, and that is not [underline] to purchase and settle upon my father-in-laws estate, "Spring Hill", in Fairfax Co., Va.   It was the one thing of all others which both Mrs. Alvord and myself preferred to do