1863 January 8 Fort Gaines

        
                    
                        Fort Gains.   Jany. 8th 1863                   
My Dear Wife
                        Your favor of the 6 Inst was
handed to me last Evening by Lieut Roberts
who arrived here about 2 O clock – I will
go down town to day and see if I can find
any Garden Seeds – I am quite certain
however that such things Cannot be had
in this place – I am going to try and
get leave of absince in five or Six days
or as soone as some of the other non-
Commissioned Officers arrive – I am
the only one here   Bray   Kendall & Beckham
all being absent – I informed Lieut Roberts
this Morning that I was becoming tired
of doing the duty of four Men and
would be glad that he would order
some of the Officers back – which he
said he did before he left home.
Beckham will be down to day and
Kendall Monday – We have much fun –
indeed we pass off the time very
pleasantly – Kiss all the Babies
                            Your affectionate Husband
                                          W. H. L. 
[With the above letter is an envelope 3 ¼ inches by 5 ½ inches addressed as follows:]
               Jan 8th 1863
                        Mrs. W. H. Locke
                               Eufaula
                                     Ala                                                   
[The postmark on the envelope has been cut off.]

William H. Locke, Eufaula Minutemen and then the 7th Alabama Cavalry

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13485