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SOLDIER?S LETTER TO HIS WIFE
Bay St. Louis Dec. 20, 1861
Dear Elizabeth
I	seat myself once more to write you a few lines, which hope may find you and the children well. On say no more that I am well at this time. I received a letter from you dated the first of December which I was truly glad to get. It gave no newfof the things I sent you. Did you get your shoes? You have not got them send me your measures and I will try and get them here. We all have got our money and anything we get here we have to pay double price for it. Woods Dork is selling for one bit a pound and chickens are going like hot cakes at 50 cents per head. The molasses that I wrote to you about, I started them up this morning on Ebanizer Stuarts wagon and you must try to get Howard to his house after them. I also sent two hats for the boys. I have got a big oven but I cannot do without it now. I have got about' $25 or ^30 dollars in money at this time and if you have a chance to	send	down, I will send you
anything you may send for.	I am	very	tired of	this place
and it would be. the greatest pleasure in the world if .1 could go home and stay there. I looked in every store here for cotton cards and there is none here. You must,write every week or two and I will go home when I can. No person can get a furlough now. Nothing more but your husband until death.
W.M.fcurphy
We have had news that there	are three	thousand	yankees on
Ship Island and I expect we	will	stay	here for	awhile. You
must make Ira call up the hogs and feed them once or twice a week. You must write and let me know how you are getting along with the old fence. We had some good news lately that we are getting troops tp assist us. Let me know if	>
Stuarts wagon got home. t ^ ^	I
^ t*~	oJ&j-
(Lived near Hoi land ale, not far from Hazlehurst, Miss.
Was wounded at Gettysburg and after the long journey died when within 20 miles of home. Facts supplied by ^
Mrs. Sheila Gullett Bellew, 3901 Reynosa Drive,	fknitnn.,
Gulfport, Miss., great-grandaughter on Oct. 12	1972.
M. James Stevens)	*