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Hotel De. Pickering New Orleans Lou Feb 7th 1864 Dear Sister Sallie I have to acknowledge the receipt of two letters from you and from Katie which is more I fear than I shall be able to answer, especialy as you would think that I ought to. How can you expect me to write over a whole sheet, when there is nothing new or interesting to write about. If I only had a little of your flow of language, and the readiness of your pen, then I should have no excuse for not filling a sheet or more, every time, but as it is you will have to excuse my short epistles, for I do not know what to write about It is near Mid Night, and I am in the Office again as usual. About an hour ago a squad of ten Refuges from over the lines, arrived