As mentioned earlier, there are four service files for McAfee. Two are minimal, such as the one filed under 39th Mississippi and another under his initials. Unless it's a copy for file purposes, a letter from the War Department ordinarily would not appear in a service file. Documents available in files are those sent to Richmond rather than documents sent to the field. For instance, we have McAfee's letter to the War Department asking for a commission. I'm guessing that the letter from the War Department was passed down through descendants.