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88th Regt. Ill. Infty. Huntsville, Ala. Jan. 20, 1865. My dear friends: I am so selfishly desirous of getting every letter you write to me that, being about to change my location, I send you my proposed address (which please follow literally,) to the end that I may not have to mourn over miscarried communications. Thus: Lieut. Richard Realf, Care Post Head Quarters, Nashville, Tenn. I continue to suffer so greatly from the injuries received last Fall, and my general health is so undermined and impaired by constant service and exposure that I have decided to obey the dictates of prudence and adopt the advice of our Surgeon by accepting the very pleasant Staff position tendered me by Brig. Gen. Miller, Comdr. the Post of Nashville. I am so exceedingly busy in getting at the arrearages of my office previous to departure that I cannot linger with you longer than to thank [crossed out word begin] Marian [crossed out word end] for her last and both for [crossed out word begin] their [crossed out word end] your pleasant friendship. Therefore God bless you. Good-night. Richard Realf.

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