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your communication (the others having been mustered out) are utterly groundless, and that they were maliciously made by your informant, I regret I cannot in duty to myself and the service comply with the request contained in the last paragraph of your letter, "not to ask the name of your informant," and therefore respectfully request the name of the person from whom you derived your information in order that he or they may be summoned to appear before a Court of Inquiry demanded by Lieut Williams as provided by the 92nd Article of War to examine and report upon certain allegations affecting his character as an officer and which I deem it but justice to Lt. Williams to order. I do this without hesitation from my knowledge of the personal character of Genl. Howard and with a thorough conviction that he would not intentionally injure either myself or the officers under me, nor withhold from any officer the means of vindicating his private character

In conclusion I assure the General that I have no other feeling in this matter than an earnest desire to