Office Commissary of Subsistence
		     Memphis, Tenn., February 16th 1863. 
My Own Darling Emma,
		                 Why I receive no
letters from you recently is more than I
can account for.
		        Dear One. I can certi-
-fy to one fact and that is that I
have written _ Two letters that no answers
have been received to. Why is this? Why
dont I hear from my Emma? these are
questions I find myself asking quite
frequently of late: but no answer can
I give that satisfied myself.
				But dear
One you complained of not being very
well in your last letter , and I fear
you are sick: Conseiquently I worry
considerably on your account. however
I hope soon to hear from you
and to learn all's well.
			     Some time
since I received news that by a Gen-
eral Order from General Hamilton
I was detailed from my Company &.
transfered to this Department as a
Clerk: I am to receive Extra pay etc.

I consider myself extremely lucky
	I am very busy most of the time
_ in fact I hardly get time to write to
any of my friends _
			The time I am de-
voting to this letter My Books needs
	But there is no consideration
that will induce me to neglect my
Emma.
	There is a report that we are
to go down the River _ But my oppin-
ion is we shall remain here for
some time to come.
		        I have not heard
from FranK Goodwin very recently
	Last advices he was. at St
Louis, much improved in health
		Oh! My promised Emma
This beautiful afternoon what would
I not Give to see you.
			Perhapse I
Can see you some time the
Comming summer for, Some
One of us clerks will have to go to 
Saint Louis &. Chicago in the Course
of two or three months _ Who Knows
but I may be the luckey Boy.
	We shall see, We shall see.

     Excuse the Brevity of this letter
		The Steam Boat “Polar Star”
lies at the Wharf _ waiting for her
Invoice of Commissary Stores
preparetory to Going down the 
River to Vixburg
			I must Close
business Calls me. Love to your
Mother   Respects to Mr. Gowdy also
to John &. family.
			I Remain,
		Your Own Promised
			      Mark