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Camp "Elzey," Va. Feby 6th 1864
Were it possible to feel any
other emotion than gratification & pleasure
at the reception of your letter, I might be temp-
-ted to demur to all such queries as arise in it,
implying as they do, such strong doubts of my
appreciativeness, and that I may not in future give
cause for such unnecessary suspicions. allow me
to say that if to you, your letter seemed "prolix or
prosy" then for my sake never be otherwise.
If your pen naturally inclines to a too free use
of itself pray place no restraint on it. Nor
consider it perverse. If instead of the app-
-lication intended for myself – You do not find it
a wearisome task to reply to my prosy productions
please let me still have the benefit of those words
and sentiments which are capable of creating such
sincere pleasure.
If these horrible conventionalities did not here in-
-terpose such a frowning voice, I could thank
you for so kindly remembering me in such