Nacogdoches Texas, March 27th 1864
Dear wife I once more write to you to let you know that I am in moderate good health at this time, although I have been a little lingering for more than a week. I would like to hear from you all very much indeed, I think it is hard that I have only got one letter in nearly four months, I hope you have not neglected to write to me, I want you to write as soon as you get this letter and give me all the information you can, about what is going on in the neighbood and how they are all geting along, also how you are doing making out for something to eat and I would like to know whether you have heard from your dog --- lately if you get many cows to milk this summer you had better try to get your hogs up and keep them up awhile to gentle them
Dear Mary you must do the very best that you can and try to take good care of everything and do not give up to trouble and vexation and let things go to distruction, for I hope to god my maker and Savior that the time will soon come that I will be allowed to return home in peace to my affectionate family to stay with them and to help them along in this troublesome world may God grant it So to be is my prayer in gathering the cattle you must try to get as many divided as posible for ours will be increasing which increase we ought to have but I am satisfied that Mr. Hodge will do right as long as he is allowed to attend to it but we cannot tell how long that is
Will now inform you that we have orders to be ready to leave hence soon in the morning but whether we will do it or not I cannot tell, and if we do I donot know where we will go to it will be somewhere towards red river I suppose, I will Send to you with this letter some paper it is very sorry, but it is as good as can be bought about this place now, it will do to write on and that is enough, I will also send you -- dozen envelopes and thirty Dollars in money, I have not received one cent of my monthly wages--- and I donot know when I will
Dear mary do try your best to teach the children to be good and love thier god, and love and --- him in Sincerity and in truth yourself, and you to him for ours wellfant here after and deliver hence from this difficulties which we are now in, you must excuse me for cautioning you in every letter, to rase the children right and to do right yourself, for I am as much or more anxious for our future happiness than I am for the present.
Tell all my friends that I would be glad to see them give them my love and tell them to pray for a deliverance from our troubles give my love to Sister, Margaret, and Andrew, and tell them to try to live in the love and fear of the lord, nothing more only I remain your friend and loving husband
David Thomas Phares