[Gurley (also spelled Girley) served as a private in Co. H, 42nd NC Inf. The 1860 Census lists his age as 33 and his occupation as farmer. He lived on his small Stanley County farm with his wife, Margaret, and 4 children.]

April the weldon N C
10 1863
my Mrss govaner vanse I take
my pen in hand to drope you a
fue lines to let you no that
I am well and harty and I
feld thankful to god fore his
kind blessings be shode on me
and I hope that these few lines may
go safe to your kind hand and
find you well and harty
i am here berfooted and Cant
do no duty for the lake of
shoes and if you will send
me home on a fur low i will
git my self a pare of shouse
i have bin out twelve months
and hant bin home yet and
have a wife and five litel
Children not able to do nothing
and they are a bout sufer and
i want you to let me go home <?>
<???> <??> days and then I stay
[page 2]
then i will Come back to my
redgement I want go home and
git something fore them to eate
I stay satisfide and
if you Cant send me home
i want you Send me a
of shoese fore i Cant goe barfooted
i you plese send me a furlouw
send let me goe home a few days
so i will close for this time
so may god bless us for ever
Benjamin Gurley to Mrss
Govener Vance