1862 February 9 Centreville, Va.

Centreville Va 9 Feby 1862
My dear Little Nannie:
It has been snowing again to day
and while Brown sits hovering over the fire although I
got no letter from you to day I have determined to write
& say that Hamner called to day & reported that
the Box for me was left at the Junction in care
of our Brigade baggage Agent from whom I will
get it on tomorrow with the good things from
home & the nice things from Aunt Catherine &
Cousin Rebecca _ I am very much obliged to
you for the former & hope that you will fur-
-nish me the names & address of the kind
So. Car. Kinfolk that I may write making my
acknowledgements to them in doing which I expect
to dulge somewhat in “the highfalutin” when I
allude to the South Carolina secession, heroic ladies
palmetto trees, fans &c&c – But hold! I must not
tend to ridicule even in this when I feel so
grateful for the coming presents –
Grey Lathan has gone to Richmond
to ask the War Dept. to let him raise an

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Artillery Battalion from the Infantry service
but I scarcely think that that request will
be granted as it has been refused to so many
others – About twenty good men will join
a company for my command from the compa-
-ny but as the Department will not allow
me to disturb the Infantry organizations I
do not hope or care much to succeed –
The last news from the West and
the South does not discourage the troops
here but rather inclines them to re-enlistment –
I think that more than half of the Va Vols.
in this quarter will join again –
Did you receive the half notes sent
you in a letter for Clark & afterwards Clarks
draft on his Father for 20$?
I can think of nothing more now
if I could what is left of this small half
sheet wd. not let me say it – Give my love to all
at home & tell the Cap’n I’m going to start him to
school in a short time to Mr. Botsford –
Very affectionately Yr. Own
Choctaw


William A. King, Captain of the Saltville Light Artillery

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6682