Head Quarters Dist. ofMemphiS
	    Memphis Tenn Dec 3.rd 1863,
My own darling Emma.
			    Your noble
letter reached me this morning   , and
although I am laboring under a
severe fit of indisposition _ which had
Compelled me to declare myself unfit
for Office work _ Yet I must answer
my darlings good letter _ for I have
been silant already too long ~
Yet I Know my Emma will forgive
me when I tell her that I have al-
-most worked myself todeath _ for
the past two weeks – During the
day I have been constantly busy
in the Office _ And Evenings as late
as ten or Eleven O'Clock my time
has been occupied in making out
Certificates of Enrollment for Conscripts

Were it not My Country _ that thus
has Claimed my time _ I would
not thus Enslave myself _
	Darling One _ During the
time referred to we have Enrolled as
Militia over ten thousand of the
Citizens of Memphis ~ They have got
to help Uncle Samuel maintain
and deffend the honor of this
Nation.
	Dear, Darling Emma – We
have again been victorious in Tennessee.
Our brave Genl. Grant has at last
driven that Arch Traitor Bragg
from Chattanooga – and the
Federal Army now occupy and
hold nearly all the Territory of
Tennessee _ If Mead Can only
be as successful in Virginia – then
I Shall hold up both hands and
ExClaim _ The “Big Contract” _ which
has Cost so much blood and Treasure

which has made so many homes des-
-olate _ which has parted ~ darling
- for ever in this life _ many _ many
who perhaps were as dear to Each
other as we which so many noble
True, and brave patriots have
Sealed with their last drop of blood ~
     Oh! Emma this is a terrible
An Awful War _ but how dearly
are traitors paying for their Crime
Their homes are indeed desolated _ their
towns and Cities are laid waste _ and
famine stares them in the face _ 
     May God in His mercy grant _
that Our Conquering Armies may go
on from Victory to Victory _ until
the last Rebel Army is vanquished
Until the last Traitor in the land
may to his government return his
Allegiance or suffer the proper
penalty of his Crimes _
	My Constant prayer is for

the blessings of an honorable peace
when Our glorious Old flag may
wave in triumph over a happy
and United people from the great
river St. Lawrence totheGulf stream
and from the Atlantic tothe
Pacific _ May God Speed the day.
	Dearest Emma you may
Consider that a grand stretch
of the imagination _ but although
I am neither a “Prophet nor the
son of One” yet I am sanguin of
final success _
     Darling you need no reassurance
of my deep affection for you _
	You are truely aware that
you are dearer to me than all
Else in the world and I look
forward with feelings ofpleasure
when we shall again be re-
united _ Be a good girl _ may God
bless and protect you forever
  Lovetoyour Mother _ Yours forever
	                     and alone    Mark