Mobile Aug. 7^th 1864

                       

Dearest Irwin

                                                This is Sabbath day & as none of us feel able to attend church I will employ my moments when free from nervousness in attempting to interest you & hope that in some measure I may dispell the gloom of your heart occasioned by the loss of so dear a friend as I know Lt. Jeter to have been. Sister Lizzie received yours of the 30^th ult.  this morning & desires me to say, she will reply to it soon; she had heard of the sad intelligence yesterday evening, through a Miss Cleveland to whom Capt. Derall had telegraphed; but expected to have heard of it first through you, & the telegraph office your not being with the Regt. accounts for the delay. I sympathize with you both deeply for I know how sincerely you were attached to the lost one, lost to earth & mortal gaze but let us hope that he is better off, & pray to meet him & know him in that place of unending rest & happiness. I had hoped to have known him here, being loved so dearly by those I had heard speak of him, & was anxious to have an opportunity of judging how you treated your declared brothers. I cannot sympathize with Sister Lizzie or rather express sympathy for her, as well as for yourself. yours I know is a brother's sorrow but whether Lizzie mourns a brother or lover I cannot tell as she has reposed no confidence in me: if indeed she loved him as a woman should love the husband of her life, may God help her, a flower so young, so fair, to be blighted in her first love! God grant that it be not so. she is a sweet girl & particularly calculated to win my love & highest esteem. What can I say to you Irwin, to buoy you up? or is it impossible for woman's love to make the burden light? yes it is. Jesus alone is sufficient to quench the flame. seek Him dearest in this your hour of need & sorrow for He is able & willing to help you. I know how your spirits must be depressed by the untimely end of your friend & would give worlds to be able in some measure to restore your wonted cheerfulness / if love unbounded has any effect on your feelings you will soon be the lively & cheerful Irwin I first knew. I would not ask you to forget your friend but to have faith & hope in your grief. cheer up loved one & trust in the goodness & mercy of Heaven. I am not able to write much this evening, the little I have written has been done between times & after many rests. I have had severa two severe spells of asthma & many nervous attacks hysterics I suppose the gentlemen would term them. I know not what has so shocked my constitution I cannot bear the least suspense now; but once nothing could excite me very much I expect it is love & toothache together.  Oh! Irwin what would I not give to have you near me this evening twould be a joy beyond description to have your bare arms around me, kisses you would be surfeited with, love you would have to your heart's content. How do you like the photograph? every one thinks it splendid. You did not know your sweetheart was so ugly did you? I'm not fishing for a compliment, now, I am asking for it. come dearest be clever now and tell me what our plans for the future are if we are spared to spend that futurity together. Do you know that the two words—my husband—has a greater influence over your unruly Jennie than any thing else in the world. dearest good bye I am suffering now from my nervous symptoms millions of kisses, but they will become too cheap if the quantities continue so large please write soon & long letters, love to Willie. Oh! yes we start to Handsboro tomorrow I came very near forgetting that piece of intelligence. I am very anxious to get home & see how dutiful my sweetheart has been while I was in Mobile—Good bye—Good bye loved one

                                                                                   

Yours devotedly

Jennie

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