St. Simons Island
Nov. 24th, 1861.
My dear wife,
It has been just one week ago today since I had the pleasure of hearing from you. This has been the second letter I have written to you since then and should have written a third by Witter but did not know he was going till a few minutes before he started. Now dearest wife, I am not going to scold you for not writing, because I don't know why it is that you have not done so, but dearest wife, please don't put off writing me too long. Oh! you don't know how much pleasure it affords me to get a letter from my dear wife. I don't know how long it will be ere I have a chance of going home but expect it will be sometime. As the Capt. and Nute Hull are both absent and I don't know when they will return.
You must tell Pa not to get scared like some of the rest of the people and run our negroes off before the Yankees come. I think those who are running their negroes are very foolish and I am not disposed to do like them. Tell Pa if the Yankees should take possession of these Islands it will probably be two or three weeks before they will make a demonstration into the interior, and that will give us a plenty of time to move back. And besides, it is the opinion of Gen. Lee that we can hold this place and Jekyl against any force the Yankees can send. If that is the case, I think our negroes will be as safe where they are as they will be anywhere. At least I am willing to risk mine.
I am going to write Pa a letter next week about our business affairs and will then tell him all that I have to say.
I wish you would tell all the home folks when they write to Witter not to write discouraging letters to him, tell them always to present the bright side of the case to him. When he gets a letter from home stating that your Father is sick and the business is going wrong, it makes him low spirited and causes him to be dissatisfyed. You know dearest, a contented mind is all to a soldier. When he hears that those he loves are in bad health, it makes him feel lonely and dejected. Give my love to all. I will write you more when I have time.
Your affectionate,
Nate
P.S. Give my little Eula a sweet kiss for Papa and tell her to be a good girl. How does she behave? I hope she does not trouble my poor little wife too much.