# 2
My dear friend,
It may appear strange my writing, but this is to make a request which I hope you will be able to grant. I received a note from Miss Nora Choen saying that Jessie and herself were now in Jeffersonton [1] and would be happy to see me. So, I will go for them tomorrow and expect them to remain a few days with us anyhow. Now knowing you for liking for the said young ladies I take the privilege of begging you to make it convenient to pay us a visit while they sojourn with us. Of course Mr. Mathews [3] must have a showing too, so can't you manage to bring him with you? At any time that it does not interfere with your business we will be happy to see you both.
The Young Ladies speak of returning to St. Marys [2] on Wednesday but if you will come, I will try to persuade them to remain with me until next Monday. Perhaps Henry will be home by then, and the society of three such interesting young men will of course make their time pass off pleasantly. But I forget they see so many young men in St. Marys that they may think it stale amusement. Anyhow Miss Nora sent her love, or regard, or something of the sort to my party; I suppose she meant to Fell, Henry and yourself, so you see there is yet some hope of her being pleased with your company not withstanding her having so many other beaux. Please if you can help it do not disappoint us, for none of us will object seeing your dear face as often as you can or would like to show it. After I see the girls I will add a postscript and let you know how long they will remain with us.
Goodbye, hoping to see you and Mr. Mathews soon. I remain
Yours fondly
L
N.B. Somebody dreams of somebody every night. I wonder if he ever thinks of her.
Your darling
Please don't let this be seen.
P.S. Never mind about Maggy Miller, since I wrote the latter part of this note I have found out that Henry did bring the book with him. Mind my dearest you are not to disappoint your little pet Loulie by not coming just as soon as you can. I will certainly expect you on the 6th if not before.
Yours until death, Loulie.
Map of area in Camden Cpunty where Nate and Loulie's family's plantations were, in the area around the Little Satilla River and White Oak Creek, south of Waynesville. Note the railroad lines connecting the cities. Jeffersonton is on this map.
Source: U.S. Coast Survey Map, Southern Georgia and Part of South Carolina, 1865 http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/histcountymaps/camden1865map.htm
[1] Jeffersonton: from the New Georgia Encyclopedia: This was the county seat of Camden County from 1800 to the Civil War, at the site of the original county seat of St. Patrick on the south side of Gerate Satilla River. This would have been near Loulie's family's rice plantation at Thorn Hall. With the collapse of the plantation economy after the war, the town declined and was abandoned.
[2] St. Marys: from the New Georgia Encyclopedia: A town close to the Georgia-Florida state line, on the St. Marys River. It served as Camden County's seat from 1792 to 1800, after which Jeffersonton became the county seat until after the Civil War, when St. Marys again became the county seat from 1869-1923. St Marys figures prominently in these letters, since it was threatened by Yankee gunboats during the war.
[3] This is probably a friend of Nate's who served as an officer in his company:
from the on-line Roster of the Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865:
Mathews, Charles F. - Jr. 2nd Lieutenant Aug 5, 1861. Elected 2nd Lieutenant of Co. C, 4th Regt. Ga. Cavalry (Clinch's) May 21, 1862. Paroled, Thomasville, Ga. May 19, 1865.