70
	Headquarters 1st Brigade Enrolled Militia,
		District of Memphis
	       Memphis, Tenn., March 20.th 1864.
My Own Darling Emma
			   Yesterday two
letters written by your dear self
Came to comfort _ language cannot
more than half Express the pleasure
I Experianced _ I had wondered
and wondered time and again
why My Pet so neglected me _ but
you were not toblame My Emma
   I did not for one moment dis-
-trust you _ but thought maybe you
had Carelessly _ or thoughtlessly forgotten
towrite _ But Pet I beg ten thousan
pardons _
	     I do not intend to neglect
you never _ We Know the mails
are some times irregular _ and
sometimes it seems as though Our
letters were unnecessarily detained
through the Agency of some one
		Dear Darling Emma

never expose yourself to that awful
disease _ Small _ Pox _ or [Vere-O.-Loid?]
I had a light touch _ and I can
Assure you I have no occasion
to have any thing “thereunto appertaining”
again _ no not I.
	Well Pet I have been acting
in My Official Capacity now nearly 
one month _ I am getting on
finely _ Have a manificent room
for head-quarters – good servants
etc. I have also some of the
Smartest Clerks in the Country _
I have very great responsibilities
upon my shoulders _ but I am
attentive tomy business _ and as
yet have met no obstacle _ which I
could not surmount.
	General Veatch Called
on me a day or two ago _ He
wentwith Genl Sherman _ on
his Mississippi Campaign _ He with
his Entire Command have gone
toCairo _ from there they may go

East to help Capture Richmond. (As
I am Confident Our Western Boys have
got it to do) or they may go toChatta-
-nooga to drive back the rebels in
that vicinity. Friend Snow was
with General Veatch _ says he shall
remain with him during thewar
He sends warmest regards to
Emma.
	Dearest much loved One
what would I not give to see you
this night. How would my heart
leap for Joy _ were I only in your
presence. Though we are many
many miles from Each other _ yet
now _ this moment _ my heart leap
far far over the broad Expanse
of Territory _ to the Wood side Cottage
where Emma reigns as Queen.
Tis a Moon-light night _ Sunday
too _ Such a one as twenty months
ago _ we witnessed _ as we stood
side _ by side atyour Mothers
Gate _ soon topart _ soon to be sepparate

perhaps for ever _ I to fight for my
Countrys honor _ and you topray that
God might watch over _ and protect
me from harm _ and guide me safely
through the putrid Current of evil
influence that beset the paths of
so many ofour young soldiers _
     Darling do you remember that
night _ Do you remember how the
beautiful moon hid its smiling
face _ behind some passing Cloud
as if ashamed to intrude upon
the sacredness of our interview _ A
dark future seemed before us _ because
my Barque was about to sail
upon a turbulant sea _ beneath whose
foaming waters _ many a sharp edged
rock threatened to destruction _ But
now dear one the past appears
as a dark wild dream _ the future
beams more bright _ for “Tis the
distance _ appears the Beacon light _
By which to guide _ my ship aright. and
in the Political Horizon – The Bow
of hope is visable to all _ for plainly
there can you read the words of the
mortal Jackson _ “The Federal Union
must, & shall be preserved” God grant it!

[Written sideways on left-hand side of Scan 4]

Address Capt. Mark. D. Flower
		Asst. Adjt. Genl.
Care of		1st Brigade. E.M. D.ofM.
Col John McDonald            Memphis