You have been good enough to say that you will fill up the gaps in my regiment by embodying in it the remains of the regiment of Ardennes, which will bring it up to nearly its former strength.

I certainly should not like to be away while the work of fusion is being carried out.

The new men must be divided equally among the companies, and the officers so arranged that one of those now appointed shall be attached to each company with two of my own.

Then I must see that all so work together as to arrive at the same standard as before.

I should have wished that if possible the captains of the Ardennes regiment should be appointed to the new regiment that you are about to form, and that the places of those who fell in action should be filled from my list of lieutenants." "Certainly.