fort french
State of NC May 24 1863
Dear wife and children I again
Seat myself to write you a few
lines to let you know that I am
well at present & hope that thes
few lines may find you all well
and doing well I receved your kind
letter the 22nd dated the 17th
with much pleasure to hear that
you was all well at that time I
believe I am as fat as you ever saw
me I hope you are all well and fat
I am very glad that every thing looks
prospering there is nothing a growing
here in this country I received the
tobacco you sent me tell my litle
girls I am very glad to hear that they
are smart I hope god may bless them
I would be glad to see them but I
dont know when I shall see them again
[page 2]
tell ann there is nothing pretty
nor enticeing in this country I will
Send her some of the pertiest things
I can get I will send Margaret
& ann & Sarah aring in this letter
I hav sent home 8 rings for you all
to devide among you I want them all
to have aring I cannot be with you
all I will try to pleasure you as
much as I can I will send some of you
75 cts as I cant get any thing here for
it I got 25 from J.M. Kids and
I think I got the other from J Clark
I caught a water turkle the other
day and sold it for $1.50 cts I
can tell you I drawed my cloths
yesterday I got 1 cap 1 coat 2 Shirts 2 pair
of slips 1 pair of pants 2 pair of cotton
socks 1 pair of shoes I canot com
plain of the fare much here but I wold
[page 3]
rather be at home we have to stand
guard here about 3 days and nights in
a week we go on g I went on guard
this morning at nine oclock and
will come off tomorrow at nine
I dont mind the service if I could
be at home or could get home once
in a while I want you to have a pete
tion drawn that stateing the nece
sisity of me at home and the
helpliness of my family stateing that
the are all girls and cant do any
toward work or making a living
any way that I have the
helplessest family of any one in
the service that my children are
all small & that I would be of
more service at home and in the
neighbour hood that I can be in
the army and get all the signers
[page 4]
you can and send it to Jeff
davis by some body if you can there
there is somebody amost alwys pass
ing if you cant get nobody to take
it send it my mail and I think
if you have the facts Stated in
it and dont be too long about
it that I will get off I will
send you a little peace of paper con
taining the conscript law I have
not time to write to you all I
want to write write on you paper
where I am I am three miles below
wilmington on cape fare river
a guarding fort french & fort hill
I am still in the 10 N.C. Reg Co
k artilery So I must close I hope
god may bless us all I still rema
in your affectionate husband & father
untill death D F Murph to A E Murph
[written across the top of page 4]
I will write to Sarah & M
children the first chance
[written across the top of pages 2 and 3]
Derect your letter to fort franch in care of capt Shaw near
wilmington Co. K 10 NC Regt