May the 27th 1863 Dear wife
and children I again seat my
self to write you a few lines to
let you know that I am well
at present hopeing that these
few lines may find you all well
and doing well I want to know
how much money you have got
since I left home and if you
have got a cow yet I want you
to write to me how many letters
you have got from me and how
many rings you have got I want
you to write to me how every thing
looks at home and all the
news I have recieved four letter
from you I will Send you a nothe
ring in this letter for your self
it is a red colered one this makes
[page 2]
eleven I have sent to you and
the children I can inform you
that I am kept pretty
Buissy here I go on Battalion
drill every evening from 3 oclock
till night when I am not on
guard I am on guard to day
again we have three reliefs I
went on at nine and come off
at eleven and will go on
again at three I can inform
you that I want to get home
very bad I will send you
that piece of paper in this
letter I forgot it in the other
I will Send Margaret and
Ann a coppy home and I [1]
want you to give them my
pen ink and paper and let
[page 3]
be be a writing every chance
the have and I want them
to send me some of theire
wrteing in two or three weeks
I want you to indulge them in
it as much as you can I will
make a dot where the should
commence ever letter
[page 4]
tell them I have a pair of
pretty litle scissors that I will give
to the one that learns fastest if I
can get them home I want you
all to be pretty Smart children
So I must close I Remain your
afectionate husband and father untill
dath D.W. Mrph to A E Murph &c
[the alphabet is copied across the top of pages 2 and 3]
[added across the top of pages 1 and 4]
Margaret I want you and Delila to write your manes and
Send them to me as soon as
you can