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^,,^,,^^01^ EXPLANATION. 
 
 I was recently elected a Companion of the 
 New York Commandery of the Military Order of 
 the Loyal Legion. While my nomination was 
 under consideration, insidious efforts were made by 
 a few personal enemies to resuscitate a dead 
 slander, and to use this noble organization to strike 
 me a blow. They failed, because the object of the 
 Order is "to strengthen the ties of fraternal fellow- 
 ship and sympathy formed by companionship in- 
 
 arms." 
 
 Nevertheless it became apparent that they had 
 created the impression upon many officers of the old 
 army and navy whose esteem is precious to me, 
 that there existed some blemish upon my record 
 as an officer in the Union army ; and I was co .. 
 pelled to appeal to such iof- .my associates in the 
 field as fortunately still survive the events, to set 
 the matter forever at rest. 
 
 The action of so honorable and distinguished 
 a body as the New York Commandery of the Loyal 
 Legion, should be accepted as final ; calumny, 
 however, wearing the mask of friendship, will 
 perhaps continue its whisperings, but it will fail 
 to poison the mind of any soldier who reads these 
 pages, which I would not now put in print did 
 I not feel impelled so to do by a sense of duty 
 to my gallant regiment and to my children. 
 
 Chakles H. T. Collis, 
 
 (Colonel 114th Penn. Vols.) 
 
 Bvt. Maj.-GenH Vols. 
 
 1055 Fifth Avenue, N. Y. 
 April 27th, 1891. 
 
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