.NDcy.NDE1OQ

It is perhaps my own fault. I did not communicate to you every little point I happened to gain. You will see by reference to the book that the service at Gettysburg was of far more account than had been made of it here in Maine.

These things I know are mere inadvertencies. I wonder there are not more in a work so complicated & difficult as yours.

I refer to one thing further. You observe I was recommended in April for a full Major Genl. That recommendation was favorably endorsed by Meade & Grant, & like others before only dropped at Washington. When the army broke up Meade [caret symbol; begin insertion] & Grant [end insertion] made a particular nomination which I was assured would be favorably acted on. But the gentlemen at Washington had other views.

The sequel has shown.

Very truly Your frid & servt [Your friend and servant] J. L. Chamberlain

[The document ends with the following footnote in red ink, referred to on previous page.] I never had but four days ["Four days" is underlined.] proper "leave of absence" during my service. At all other times when not in the field I have been ordered away for treatment of wounds & c. [et cetera] or on duty by order of the War Dept. I never shirked field duty. J.L.C.