Danville, Boyle Co. KY.
Honored Parents and Sisters, Sept 17th, /65
Your favor of the 16th of August is at hand. O, how glad I am to here from home once more. But
sorry to here of Sister Mary's little son being dead.
Father you dont know how sorry I was to hear you had been so cruelly treated by those tyrants
that had you under guard. But I guess you can speak what you think now and be in no danger.
Amos Williams and family has arrived at Nicholsville in thirty miles of me, it seams as if he
likes Kentucky very well.
I suppose you would like to know how I am getting a long in this world. I have brought a lot in a
little town five miles of Danville where there will be a rail-road depot. The Railroad is nearly completed.
Sallie and I are living at her father's yet till I get my house put up. I would give you the name of our
town but it has no permanent name yet. I would like to come and see you all, but time is so I can't bring
Sallie with safety, and I will have to wait till times gets better. Now I am married. I have to "root hog or
die."
If I had a farm in this country I would rather live here than any place I ever saw. This is as
healthy as any country I ever saw. Sallie says she will never make her home in no other country but
Kentucky. She is willing to go with me to Dixie on a visit but not to stay.
Father you are a Union man but I hope you are such as are called Union here by some. The
abolitionist say all that will not sit by negro in Church, eat with him at the table and sleep with him at
night are rebels. There are Constitutional men here for the Union and always have been, but because they
will not mingle with the negro they say they are rebels. You dont know how the people are treated here
unless they are the same there. The negroes are free straggling all over the country stealing robing and
committing rapes on white ladies, and if a man speaks to one a little angry they arrest him with negro
soldiers. Any thing the negroes do they are protected in it. I think there is another war coming up fast and
if we can't have no better times than this, I hope how soon.
I wish Hell would burst open and swallow every dam negro in the United States. Hoping to hear
from you soon, I am your Son.
Wm. Murphy
