# 10
Camp Atkinson
Oct. 3d 1861.
My precious darling pet,
I expect you think that I will never write you again, but you see it has been blowing a storm ever since my return to the Island. I hope it has blown all of Lincoln's ships ashore. If it has, I would be satisfied to lose my crop. The sea is now very rough, so much so, that no steamboat can pass between here and Brunswick. I hope though as the wind is dying away that 'Nute Hull' [1] will be able to go to Brunswick the evening and I can send my letter by him. We have had no news down here since my return to camp in consequence of the gale. I had a very delightful trip down here from home; we arrived here about 4 o'clock the same day I left home. One of our men 'Jones' [2] shot one of Capt. Dasher's [3] men while I was home. He did it accidentally, but the wound is not dangerous as he was shot through the thigh. Col. Styles has ordered Jones to be sent to Brunswick to be court martialed for the offense. Col. Styles has ordered that Capt. Stockwell shall vacate the premises of the Light House because he sold whiskey to the men. I am very glad that he did it; I hope now that the infernal excuse of getting drunk will now be stopped. You must excuse this short letter as I am in a hurry to go to drill and I will write you a long letter day after tomorrow.
Your own dear
Nate.
Now dearest wife for a private talk with you and Miss Eula. I wrote the other for you to read out to the old folks, because I knew they would like to hear from their boy, but this is intended of you and the baby.
Well to begin. You know when I left you in such a good humor at the end of the avenue? Well I had to drop a tear for you before I got out of sight. Oh dear, dear wife none save you in this world shall ever know how hard it is for me to leave my precious wife. I am willing that the public should think us cold and indifferent to each other but dearest we know how warmly our hearts beat in unison with the other's. What if the world should think us careless? Oh Louly you don't know how many sweet dreams I have had about you since I came back and I do hope and pray the day is not far distant when they will all be realized, and I will be permitted to return to the arms of my devoted wife. You must take good care of yourself and don't get my little baby hurt, for you know that you and her are the only beings in the world I have to love. And if it were not for you and her I would not care a straw if I were dead. Well dearest the boat won't wait any longer for me so I must come to a close.
Your own devoted
Nate.
[1] Nute Hull - likely Newt (Nute) as a nickname for Robert Newton Hull, 2nd Lieutenant in Nate's Company
[2] 'Jones' is likely John B. Jones, from the on-line Roster of the Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865: a private in the company from Sept 1, 1861. Discharged, disability Jan 15, 1862.
[3] Capt. Dasher - from the on-line Roster of the Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865: William B. Dasher, Captain Aug. 15, 1861, Company F 26th Regiment Georgia Volunteers Infantry Army Northern Virginia, CSA, Charleston County, Georgia Okefenokee Rifles