I told him I had once offered my services, and they were declined; that I had made business engagements in St. Louis, which I could not throw off at pleasure; that I had long deliberated on my course of action, and must decline his offer, however tempting and complimentary. He reasoned with me, but I persisted. He told me, in that event, he should appoint Lyon, and he did so. Finding that even my best friends were uneasy as to my political status, on the 8th of May I addressed the following official letter to the Secretary of War: Office of the St.

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