April the 20th 1864

camped at hickory station
Dear Wife I take my seat to
drop you a few lines to let
you know that I am still blessed
with good health and have not
for got you and little Willie
and little Mary and all the
rest of the connection but I
hope you are all well and
geting on very well
Jack. Jess. and henry was well
last tuesday morning at whitch
time they left us to go the
Battalion at Bristol tenn
tell france that bill is well
tell Mr Brooks that Joe is gone
to Bristol with Jack he was
well when he left here
tell Mr heard that frank is well
I have got 2 letters from you
since I left you I got them
last week but I have been
so busy that I have not had
time to write to you until
to day - look on the next side
[page 2]
I was glad to hear that you
and the children was well
I was also glad to hear that
the Baby was walking I wish
that I could see her walk
tell Willie he must be a
good boy or the bad man
will get him and burn him
you said your hundread dol
lar calf was dead that is
not mutch loss to the rail
road I am shure
I was sorry to hear that they
had surveyed out the road
by our house
I want to know if Mat
Waits is still in the Barrax or
not or what they have done
with him
write soon and let me if
you got that money from
John heard or not
this is eight I have rote
to you since I left you
J. A. McMurtrey
to lucinda McMurtrey