Head Qrs. Dist. of Memphis
	     Memphis July 28th 1863.
My Own Loved Emma _
			    Your
Communication of the 17th
Inst has Just Came to my hand
and dearly loved One I dropp
Every thing Else until your dear
good letter is answered _ Oh! My
Emma Could I press to my heart
and Kiss those darling lips _ how 

[Written sideways on top of Scan 1]

Darling –
	Sometime when
you have time
you can spend
an hour or two
figuring out the
writing on the last
sheet _ of pape I should 
have said –
	Write very often _
		Mark

soon would I convince “My Pet” 
that the affection Mark used to
have for his Emma had not Subsided
but had grown more intense _ That
my Love for Emma was pure sincere
and everlasting _
	Darling you complain of not
receiving any letters from me during
the past two week _ now I must
say there is wrong work transacted
some–where for during that time
Judging from letters written by
me youshould have received two
or three _ However they may have
been delayed somewhere and
may Come out alright _ But
again must I stagger you with
my Suspicions of “Foul Play”
	Dearest I am sorry that you

should for one moment doubt
me _     Ah! darling you
must not do so again _ For
you have my assurance that
I am true Everlastingly so.
	If I do not write quite
as long letters as I used to
it is because I have greater
responscibility more care &.
less leasure moments to
devote to myself & “my own” affairs
     My People all sadly Complain
of my neglecting them – but darling
I Cannot avoid it I have no 
time to devote to my own 
business  The Adjutant Genl.
holds me accountable for all
the business in the Clerks Dept.
    I have some ten Clerks who

Page written in cross-hatch fashion

[Beginning in top left-hand corner of Scan 4]

Emma
I am
decidedly
at. a loss to
know what motion
could induce Mr.
Gowdy to attempt to
predjudice you against
me _ If you can ascertain
please do so &. inform me
     What has become of the Wilkinson
Girls? it must be that they did not much
fancy my Abolition sentament or some
thing else _ for my last letter remains
unanswered _ Ha _ ha _ ha _ I wonder if
they immagin my feelings are injured.
Emma my dear there is no doubt in my mind
but what Charlie Goodwin heared what
he said he did in Chickaming but
what matters that a person dont
amount to much in that
place unless some one
does missrepresent them
I Still remain
Very affectionate
& Your Own
fondly
Loved &.
Loving 
“Mark”

[Beginning in top right-hand corner of Scan 4]

Darling
Does Benj.
Ingalls work
for Googwin Gowdy
&. Co. The weather
is extremely warm
in deed so much so that
one feels almost prostrate
in mind &. body Is Miss Fisher
in Chickaming this Summer _ ?
Oh! my darling & truely loved Emma
if I were with you how much could
I tell you  &. how easily could I
convince you that you alone dear
one had the power to thrill my heart
with Joy & gladness No Emma
dear Girl for my sake do not think
again that Mark is anything
but true to you many 
temptations are cons-
-tantly arround me
but as yet I have resisted all
& for your sake

report to me _ Darling have
you asked Mr. Gowdy for the
Love letters that are laying arr-
=ound C.H. Goodwins store?
     Do as you think best. I have
not forgotten those remarks
       My Emma you said he
or some one else had said
something “Else” in regard to
you _ please tell me.
       Cousin Deloss is first-rate always
sends love to you. I think that
he and Fannie are playing
out.   I hope So.
	The Soldiers of the South
-west begin to think they will 
finish their glorious work

[Written sideways on left-hand side of Scan 5]

     I had a letter from my Uncle yesterday informing
   me that he was very anxious for me to return to Chicka-
   -ming _ &. help run that Institution. I informed him
   I would see the whole Institution. Sunk before I would
do it under existing circumstances ___


some time the coming winter
     We have done well at all
events _ The reopening of the
Mississippi is certainly a great
accomplishment   Let us trust
in God for the final Consumation
     I must close _ Please answer
soon and Write a longer
letter.   How strange that Marks
Darling should for one moment
immagin _ that I did not want
toreceive letters from her.
     Darling you are very dear
    Love to your Mother _    Respects
to Jon. &. family _    My Mother was very
much disappointed because I did
not meet her &. my Sisters in Aurora
      The Adjutant General still remains
		write Soon
very sick _ 	I Remain Your own loving
		                  Mark