Letter written by Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade from Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac in Washington D.C., on March 30, 1864, to George R. Birch, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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PAGE IMAGEHead-Quarters, Army of the Potomac (Army of the Potomac), Mar. 30, 1864. Geo. R. Birch (Birch?, George R.)
Philad. (Philadelphia)
Dear Sir (Birch, George R.) -

I regret I can not
comply with your request
in your letter of the 28th inst.
There are so many men
now on furlough from this
army, in consequence of [res--ting?]
that the [rule?] has
[new? made?] to grant no
other furloughs, except in
extreme cases of life & death
where humanity requires them.
Your nephew by re-[--ting?]
can have at once 35 days
furlough, but if he [does?]
not [d---?] to take this
step he will proabaly
have to serve out his time

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PAGE IMAGE before he can get home -
I have [??] dispositions to
serve you & him, [??] can
not [?? ??] rules
made for the good of the
service, or make an exception
in his case which I would
not do in those of others
of which I have numerous
applications -

Respectfully Yours Geo. G. Meade
Maj. Gen (Meade, George Gordon (Major General))