.NDcy.NDE1OA

Brunswick Dec 6th. 1865

[The handwriting appears hasty throughout. Several times, two or more consecutive words are written with one stroke of the pen, as if the writer didn't lift the pen far enough off the paper to interrupt the stroke between words. This will be indicated with a hyphen between the joined words.]

My dear-Gnl.

I have thought it best to-send you a Book in-which a portion [underlined] of the papers I referred to are copied, & other authentic slips of paper pasted.

These are incidents of a merely formal nature which it would-not be proper for me either to write myself, or (by that convenient process to-which a flaming modesty so often-resorts) to procure others to-write for me. Time will bring them out. I prefer that-my reputation should improve [underlined] upon a better knowledge of-facts, rather than diminish.

I observe that-in your Report I am spoken of as absent [Here, a small red X is written, indicating a footnote. The footnote is at the bottom of the next page.] from my Regt. occasionally without any remark to-the effect that I-was at that time comdg. [commanding] the-Brigade. Indeed I am classed merely with Col. Gilmore as "absent." when in-fact I was at-that time leadg. my Brigade into Battle, &-had my horse shot there.