Head Quarters Dist.ofMemphis
		Memphis Tenn. Dec. 23. - 1863.
Darling Much Loved Emma.	
				After
waiting a very long time your letter
has finally reached me _ Oh! Emma
only those who love as we do Know
the deep  , and true pleasure experianced
at the receipt of a dear letter from
the object of their affection _ Darling
I am truely happy when reading
your loving letters _     Some times in
dreams I wander with you my
Emma by some [swirling broocKlet?]
and arm in arm we listen to
its sweet music _ we gaze together in
imagination upon fair Luna's pale face _
whose rays oflight seems born for us
alone _ such is love _ Scenes like those
beget love in all its purity _ Do

you Ever look upon the bright [Aurora?]
without a thrill of Joy _ I do not
for beneath its clear beam we learned
Each others love _ and darling we were
then happy & contented _ It was too
bad that Circumstances _ the dread-
-ful Consequences of which we could
notgovern Compelled us So very
Soon thereafter topart _ Yet I have
no doubt in the End it will be
much better for us both _
	Yes darling your picture did
Come to hand Safe _ but not exactly
Sound as the glass was broken
and yet the picture was    not
defaced _   I acknowledged its receipt
in a previous letter _
	Dear One _ How do you , and
John M. [Glarin?] agree _ Not very
well I imagine _ But never mind
darling let Our Enemies say or
do as they may _ The time will

Come when they Can all see
that they had no influence over two
hearts _ who loved devotedly _
  Remember those two lines from Ingo-
-mar _ They are Sweet _
Two Souls with but a single thought,
Two hearts that beat as One _
	     My cousin Deloss is now
in Memphis again _ we have good
times together _ He often speaks of
you Emma   , and always says
“I am going towrite to Emma Soon
   His time is very much occupied _
I am Nervous today _ and my writing
is miserable _ I am Compelled towrite
fast in Order tosend by todays
mail _ Consequently My Emma
will Excuse me this time I will
try   , and write toyou again Ere long _
	Yesterday I received news from
home that little Sister Mama was
very sick _ Not expected tolive _ Oh!

May God who doeth all things well
Spare her tous _ for She is a Sweet
girl _ and Our home would seem des-
-olate indeed without her _ You shall
hear from her soon again_
	Yesterday we cannonaded
the Rebels from our gun-boats in
the river, and Batteries on this
side of the Miss _   They appeared yes-
-terday morning in Considerable force
on the ArKansas side of the river _ Our
firing although heavy _ did little Ex-
-ecution.
	No Enemy in view this morn-
ing _ Darling write to me soon, and
often _   Love toyour Mother, and
my best respects to John & family _
	I Still remain
		Your Own loving
			“Mark”