I am pleased to acknowledge receipt of your esteemed favor of February 2nd. and I appreciate very much your kindly interest in the matter. I have been so long a faithful and loyal friend to the Confederate soldiers that I am very loth to surrender my position at the Soldiers Home. I organized the Home and was its first president, serving for eight years, and then resigned. But unless conditions are changed at the Home as they at present exist, I shall have to ask you to accept my resignation. This, however, I will not do until I see you.

I am going to New York today and will be gone for ten days and on my return I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you with reference to this matter.