would come on, his resignation accepted. & that there would be an election immediately.  my friends were sorry that I had left, for as soon as I was gone Orderly Downs, who is a candidate commenced a crusade against me, with low undermining lies, such as this, he would get into a squad of the boys & say, "There is a certain man in Co. C that has been trying to get office, first he tried to get into Co E. as 2nd lieut, & then he tried to be wagonmaster, & now he is trying to get to be 2d lieut in Co. C. & that's no body else than Lyle Garrett". & many other ways he almost quit calling the roll & when he did he dared not to put delinquents on duty, he was every where insinuating & fawning to the boys so much so that many of them are disgusted with him, I have said nothing to him about it, I have chosen rather to let him break his own neck,  Now I know that you will feel an interest in this matter, I do not know that Capt Greggs resignation will be accepted, & if it should be there are many interest against me, the other sargents of course will want to all go up by regular promotion.  They will have their friends & you can readily see that I have to work against odds.  & besides all this I am not much of a man to wirework & electioneer.  I have told the boys that if they see fit to elect me to that position I shall aim to do what I consider to be my duty
