May the 13th 1864
Saltville virginia
Dear Wife I take my seat to drop
you a few lines to let you know
that I am well except a bad cold
and I hope that this will come to
your hand in due time and find
you and the children all well
I have nothing of importance to
rite to you at this time only
I would beglad to see you all
it would be a heep more satisfac
tion to me to talk with you
than it is to rite to you
it is true that we are cut off by
the yankees from riteing to you or
they have got the rail road betwen
this place and linchburg
I rote a few lines the other day
but did not have a chance to send
if off so I thought that I would
rite a little more
I have got 2 letters from you
since I rote the other day they was
in the company I was glad to hear
you and the children was well
and that the baby was runing a bout
[page 2]
they say that the yankees has whiped
general Morgan back and is for
tafications at Doublin
I beleive that the yankees will
run us off from saltville
I must close for they are geer
ing the mules to go to the
pasture
I send this letter by frank
Ethridge he is going through
north carolina he can not take
my over coat
I want you to rite perhaps the
rail road will be opened by
that time good bye J.A. McMurtrey
May the 13 we did not go to the
pasture this evening for some
cause unknown to me
Jack Jess and henry is well
I will rite if I have the chance
to send off my letters so if you
dont get letters from me you
may know what is the matter
if am tak prisoner
by the yankees and has
a chance to rite and has
am well treated I will
send this [1]
kind of a figure