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Camp 3rd Fla. Regt. Mobile Ala.
July 19th 1862

My Darling Wife,

I have not received any letters from you since I wrote my last- nevertheless I look for
one today. I Darling have received your letters so regularly none so far has been
miscarried- all I have which is some fourteen or fifteen and I have them now stored
away in my trunk. I did not succeed Darling in getting a leave of absence on my
resignation. Col. Dilworth [Colonel William S. Dilworth] has acted towards me very
[sic] ungentlemanly and nigardly [sic]. I do not speak to him only when I am compelled]
to on Official business which is seldom. I Darling treat him with the greatest contempt
imaginable. The Officers from the east look upon him with disgust and also some from
the west. Irvine Drysdale and myself watches him like a Mother would her young and
Darling the very first time he does anything wrong we are going to report him to Gen.
Jones. I know it will not be long before we are favored with a chance for he is at all times
committing errors. I cannot imagine Darling why he has treated me in the manner he has
unless it is when our Regiment first landed in Mobile Col. Dilworth went to the hotel and
left us all night and a day in the rain on Mobile wharfs. I called on him at the hotel and
told him he had treated us shamefully and I did not entend [sic] to serve any longer under
a man who neglected his men in the manner he has. Some of my friends persuaded me
not to resign and Col. Dilworth has treated me with respect until [sic] now. My
resignation is gone to the war Department at Richmond for exceptance [sic] if not
excepted [sic] Darling you will not see me until the war is over- unless I can break Col.
Dilworth of his Commission as Colonel as I know he will never approve any applications
of mine. The health of our Regiment is remarkable good and we have not had but two or
three deaths since we have left Florida. Your Uncles are well and anxious to return to
Florida they wish to be remembered to you all. When you write again my Darling Wife
let me know who told you about your Father's difficulty with Mr. Gamie. I guess your]
Uncle Robert but you stated it was not him. I cannot imagine who it is. I will Darling
send you those things you desire by the first opportunity Darling I wish I could be the
bearer of it but that now is impossible with Col. Dilworth's influence against me. Kiss all
for me and remember me to all enquiring friends and relatives. My Company Dolly do
not want me to resign. I have a great many friends Darling both Officers and soldiers and
they to not want to see me leave the Regiment. I know Darling you are anxious for me to
resign and return home. I know you all must be so lonesome in the country and are
anxious for this war to end so that you can return to Batton Island. I hope Dolly it will be
soon. Irvine Drysdale wishes to be remembered to you all and says you must not be
surprised [sic] if you see him and me some day in Florida. We hope to trip up Col.
Dilworth and send him home where he aught to have been long ago. My health Darling
is good if I should get sick I would get a Surgeon's Certificate and then Col. Dilworth
could not prevent me from going to see you. I am too healthy to think of that now.
Write soon to your]

Husband
Jacob E. Mickler












Transcribed by Nicole J. Milano, University of Florida, 2009