November the 31^st 1863

Memphis Tennessee

 

Dear Beloved Wife with the greatest of pleasure and mutch respect it is that I can once more enjoy the present oportunity of righting you a fiew lines to let you no that I am well and I hope when those fiew lines comes to hand they may find you and the rest of the friends all well

 

Well Cordelia this is saturday evening and I just came off of picket guard this morning and I expect I will have to go on guard in the morning again I have ben on guard four days and nights out of seven and we have not mutch chance to sleep / on picket I think the time very long to get to see you and them little girls But I hope the time is not far distant when I can once more enjoy the privilige of returning home to spend the balance of our days together Well Cordelia I did not get my letter finished yesterday and I had to go on picket guard this morning and I am about one mile and a half from camp and right in the woods and Peter Wise and W^m Tom and W^m M^cCambel is with me but Cordelia I would feel mutch better sadisfied if I was at home with you and / them sweet little children

 

well Cordelia I am setting buy the root of a nice big oak tree righting and the sun shines very warm and nice and it is just twelve Oclock and I have just eaten my dinner I had some bred and onions and some coffee for my dinner well Cordelia I would like to no whether you have got them all that money that I sent you yet and whether Samuel Garver has ben there and whether you got them ear bobs that I sent to Nancy Jane and Sarah Catharine and if you have got them right and let me no what you think of them 

 

Well Cordelia I cant think of aney thing else to right at present but

 

When this you see remember me

 

So nothing more at present But I remain your Beloved Companion to my Dear Beloved Wife and sweet little children

 

Hugh Bay to Cordelia Ann Bay

 

right soon

 

so good Buy

                       

tell nancy jane that pap will send her a ring just as soon as he can get it made

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