May the 30th 1864
near Saltville va
Dear Wife
I seat my self to drop you a few
lines to let you know that I got your
letters two in number last night one
of them April 30th and the other May
13th and was glad to learn from both
of them that you and the children was
both well and was glad to here that
the yankees was not a round in that
country you said that you had forty
dollars of what money that I sent to
you and some more I will tell you
I think you had better spend it for
some thing to eat if you cant buy
nothing else I think you had better
buy molasses with it they will do
the children to eat and the money
will not do you any good to keep
it do as you think best a bout it
this is 15 letters that I have wrote to
you since I left home
[page 2]
I wrote a letter day be fore yes ter
day but I thought that I would
write a little more as long as I got
your letters last night
I was sorry to hear that W.W. John
son had to go off but I hope that
he will get to come home to cut his
wheat and write some more letters
Jack is well Jess and henry is well
write to me and let me know whether
you will have any fruit this year
or not
I want to know what the yankees is do
ing and where they are and what gener
al Johnson is doing and where he is
I have wrote 8 letters yesterday and
to day and only one of them to you
you must excuse my short let
ter and be shure to write to me as
soon as you get this good bye
J.A. McMurtrey to Lucinda McMurtrey
I am well this evening good bye a gain