Camp Bartow [1]
Nov. 1st, 1861
My dear little wife,
This is the first leisure time I have had since my arrival at this place and I am going to devote it to my dear, sweet wife. We arrived here on Tuesday evening last, and since that time have been continually engaged in making out pay rolls for the company, pitching tents and clearing up our camp ground. It has been raining all day long accompanied with high winds, which of course makes it very disagreeable, but you know darling it is the duty of a poor soldier to bear with patience every trial and not murmur at hardships, as darling we will make the best of it and say no more about it.
I am going to St. Marys tomorrow as I promised to meet my dear, sweet wife, as I promised her, but as she has disappointed me so often, I fear I will be unfortunate again, but never mind my precious one, if fate is against you now it will not be so always. I feel that there is a long and happy life set before us. I hardly think the war will last much longer; then, oh sweetheart, won't we be so happy. We have quite a nice little place for a camping ground here and very convenient to both St. Marys and Fernandina.
If you don't come down on Saturday so as I will have a chance of telling you that when you write me direct you letters to St. Marys instead of Fernandina, as there is daily communication between this post and that place. When you see Mrs, Mumford please give her my kindest regards, and tell her that I do not think I have coughed more that half a dozen times since she gave that dose of ……. Balsom [2]. I am not jesting about it, I am in earnest. We have just received a telegraphic dispatch from Richmond to Fernandina that sixty steamers and warships had left New York and Philadelphia on the 26th of last month for southern parts, and to be on the lookout for them. I guess if they come we will give them a warm salute before retreating. You must give my best love to my poor old mother and father, and also to your father and mother, and all the rest of both families.
Please excuse this short letter as I have no time to write any more. Now precious wife goodbye. Take good care of your dear little self is the earnest wish of you own fond boy.
Nate.
[1] Camp Bartow - Nate's company left Cumberland Island for St. Simons Island by order of Brigadier General Lawton, Nov. 1, 1861.
[2] ……Balsom - likely one of the patent medicine nostrums prevalent in the 19th century, for example Holland’s Balsam of Spruce is in the tradition of other tree resin remedies, such as Solomon’s Balm of Gilead and the Balsam of Mecca. Other cough remedies contained alcohol or opium. http://thequackdoctor.com/index.php/hollands-balsam-of-spruce