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tell me that I must remain East thro' the Autumn and Spring I [strike] unless I am willing to run a great risk of permanently impairing my health, and such a risk I am not prepared to run, while I can [underline] avoid it.

    I can honestly say, General, that my chief [underline] regret in the decision I have made is the breaking of my relations with you, personal and official, and on that account especially I desire to hold onto my cavalry commission-- something to still connect and bring us again together if we both live, making this separation not finial 'tho' long.
  And it pleases me to think that you will be sincerely disappointed at my not returning and will probably be glad to assist me, as you can, in remaining an officer of your regiment.
    Next to my regret at separating from you for so long a time, I place that at leaving Company "M". to which I am much attached.  But I still hope that my name will long remain on the Company rolls, and that the men will be properly cared for in my absence.     From what I have heard of Lieut. Bell, I fear he & Harmon would make