Feb 27th 1864
Dear Lorette,

I received yours of the 26th today, I also received one from you dated the 20th. You have indeed been very prompt in your answering, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for it. The weather here has been very fine for the first few days, but rather cool today. We are having a great many brigade reviews nowadays; had one last Saturday, yesterday had an inspection muster for pay, and we expect to have to go Division Review tomorrow, so you see that our time is pretty much occupied with soldiering but I can always find time to visit you. What was these in my last that reads so strange if there is anything that would lead you to think that it is anything but a pleasure for me to write to you, I assure you that I did not so intend it, Lorette, you know me well enough, to know that I would not write seven pages to a girl that I did not like to write you, don't you. Please tell me in your next what there was that makes you think it is a task for one to write to you, so I suppose I did not ask you to call me so "in plain English" although I asked you just as plain a question in "plain English" which you did not answer then. To tell you the truth, dear L, when I left [] I had measly made out my mind that you cared less for me than for any fellow in the face of the globe. Not that you were not kind to me, but so you are to every one, and I thought "L_. does not tell me in so many words that she doesn't like to have me around, because she knows I can stay but a short time, and can let me know after I have gone". Forgive me Dear L. I did not mean what I said about you never giving a second thought to anything I said, and I did not think that you would take it in [easement], but I certainly never should have thought of your treasuring [] what I said, unless I had been told so by you. There is no point that I do not exactly agree with you in and that is done. I think that a man was capable of loving as a woman, you say that "a woman loves but once" that may be but what better proof have we of it than we have of a man loving but once. I think that neither man nor woman even love but once. They may think they do, and they may succeed in making others think so, but they do not in reality love but one, and happy must he be who finds his own love returned cause how much my woman loved me, of course I should, the more the better, but not worship. That is due to nothing human. I hope you will get a good man, one of the best, and one that comes as near being worthy of being worshipped as possible, in any thing you are mistaken I do not now nor did I ever think you could [] on the contrary I believe it to be as you say that a "[manner on] mere affectionate heart never beat" than [yours], you knew Lorette that I will take your word for anything, so there is no use in saying anything more about the right of the [].
I am glad to hear that your cold is better you must be very careful and not get sick again. My cold is a great deal better, yes I almost knew you could care me, and I wish you were here, although I am afraid I should be tempted to be sick a great deal longer than was necessary. I have not been able to get the major's picture yet, but will before long and will send it as soon as I do, he is well as usual. "The Contrast" is quite a [] do you think it is generally the case that then is much difference in the before and afters as that would us think: I don't believe you will find this a very interesting letter. They are making out the muster rolls. The Capt. Has been reading names, dates, [], all the evening for his clerk to copy and that is enough to confuse any one. You forgot to tell me that dream, didn't you?
Bless you [] for the assurance that you love me. I will try to be worthy of your confidence. I hope to see you before a great while. It seems a very long time since I saw you, but it is getting later and I will close, write soon and believe me to be now as I ever have been.
Yours, George