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to this city until the 17th of October, and I then could not well leave until the end of the month. I now find my health as much impaired, and the demands for my return home so urgent, that I feel compelled to decline your kind after you having awaited my pleasure so long.

Hoping this explanation will be satisfactory, I have the honor to remain, Colonel,

Yours Respectfully,

[[signature]] W. F. Chalfant [[/signature]]

Transcription Notes:
surname looks like "Chatfant," but may be "Chalfant," a more common name in Louisiana in the 1860s (Look closely at how the writer swings from the tail of his lowercase "f" back across the previous letter --l?--to connect with the "a" after "f," so this is probably not a crossed "t.") --Jlch good eye!