Head Qrs. Dist. of Memphis
		Memphis Tennessee
			July 14.th 1863,
My Own Fondly Loved Emma
				    One sad
long, lonely, week. Seven long long
days. One Hundred and Sixty Eight
dreary hours that hung like months
have passed since I wrote to you
my other letter. How Sad I was dear
Girl my letter alone Explained –
     Since writing that letter one
Hundred times. did I grab my
pen and begin a communication
toyou _ But Judgement said
write not again until You hear
from Emma. Your letter Just
Came and I commence an answer
      How Strange that some people are

never Contented until they are
troubling others.   How very Strange
that Some people delight in broils
and disturbances _ and Can never
rest until they have made a breach
or attempted it in the Affairs of
others _    Emma my dear Emma
  Charlie Goodwin was here not long
since _ and he told me that it was
the Common talk in Chikaming
that You and James Gowdy were
very intimate _ and that from
the General impression he Concluded
that you and I were done _ He said
you did not seem very anxious
to hear from me. or at least made
no perticular inquiry regarding me _
that notwithstanding he was a good
friend to both you and I. and
had numerous Communications. verbal
		             in    			
from me to you _ that ^ Consideration 
of these facts _ He Concluded to use
his Own discretion _ and not Communicate
then as he Concluded from what he
Could learn that. it would be placing
me in an Embarissing situation
which he was unwilling to do.
	He said that for these reasons

he refrained from visiting you more
times than once. He further
remarked that he Could only Judge
only from what he saw and heard 
and _ that his honest impression
ws that you and James Gowdy
were more intimate than the Codes
of friendship would allow _
	Now Emma I have ever told
you that Jim was a good boy that
he was Kind-hearted _ and that in 
my imagination would make some
women a good Husband. The Same
I now repeat _ Emma _ I am as true
to you as any person Can be
but after learning what you have
I ask you to investigate before
you go any further _ my Old friend
Mr Gowdy says I am false _ “Look
dear Girl before you leap” that is
an old and good maxim _ and
its precepts are worth following
	My Confidence in you is un-
-shaken _   When you write tell me
what you think. of Charlies remarks
    Love to your Mother _
		I Remain as Ever
			the Same
				   Mark

[Written sideways on right-hand side of page]

Emma please answer this at your. very
Earliest Convenience _ Let us be frank
and honest with Each other _
		From One that
			Loves You Most dearly