Head Quarters Dist Memphis
	     May 28th 1863. Memphis Tenn.

My Own Fondly Loved One.

				Your
dear good letter came safely
to me last evening and _ as
I read it over and over again
my heart seemed ready to burst
its bonds and fly to its le-
gitimate Keeper .
		        Some times
I wish my Emma was here
notwithstanding the uncertain =
-ties of war. Yet the climate
is too unhealthy for Northern
“Rose Buds” and I content
myself with the idea that you
are better situated where you
are than you could be
in an Enemies Country.
	Oh! Darling One. The wound-
-ed are arriving from Vicksburg
poor suffering Martyrs in their
Countries Cause! Oh that I

could have had a hand
in that awful Ten days
Battle _
	We have information
Official too. that the Country 
for miles is lined with our
Killed and wounded _ and
yet the Battle rages with no
abated fury.
		We have taken
nine Thousand prisoners
and over Seventy pieces
of Artillery _ The City is closely
besieged ~ and unless they
are Strongly reinforced _ and
attack our rear _ The City with
its strong deffences must fall
	We are anxiously awaiting
results _ trusting to the valor
of Our troops ~ the Justice of
Our Cause _ and the beneficence
of a Just God.
		Memphis since
my last letter ~ has been par-
-tially [invested?] by by Confederate
troops ~ but we have drove
them back in every instance
and are masters of our

position.
	Why Darling Emma
how strange _ that you should 
ask me if you should send
me Your picture _ Certainly I
want it very much _ You re-
=member I always immagine of
you were sad in the one 
you gave me.
		Dear Emma
I have no. doubt we Shall
meet ere the summer has
gone. Imagin we will
have a good time. there 
is hardly a night passes
but I dream of you.
	Dear Girl, Why did we not
learn to love each other sooner
_ it now seems very strange that
we could live five or six
months in the same town
and not enjoy each others
society. But we always were
congenial. I believe I loved
you when I was first intro-
-duced at Abdon Wilkinsons
Residence _ But I then
thought you Loved Henry


[Chourse?] ~ nor was I the
only one that harbored the
same idea.
		Charlie Goodwin
always used to say to
me “Emma would make
you a true ~ and better
wife – than you can
find in any City
from Maine to Minneso-
ta”
     I consider that no
idle Compliment.
	Charlie Goodwin  has
good Judgement, and
willingly _ would of never
advise me wrong.
		       You
know that he is very odd
besides possessing an
Independance that many
unaquainted with his nature
might Construe evil – mean-
-ing – But his word is