Letter, Luke J. Whitfield to James Sykes, 6/9/1863

              Office at Mobile  June 9th 1863
James Sykes Esqr
     Columbus  Dear Sir  Your letter in regard to a negro boy of Capt Sale's who you had hired to a Mr Sawyers came to Mobile during my absence in charge of the Government trains to Pascagoula to transport New Orleans Exiles.  I called on Mr Sawyers & got an order on his wife in La Grange Georgia for the Negro which order I turned over to the Southern Express Company to get the boy & take him to Capt Sale care of Dr Evans Dalton Ga as you requested.  The Expenses of same I guaranteed to pay as soon as the Express Company found what they would be & as soon as I get the bill will send it up to you.  They would not agree to collect the charges at Dalton & I had to guarantee the payment to get them to attend to it at all.  Sawyers is such a scamp that I am astonished at your hiring the negro to him & I am not so sure that his wife is or ever has been at La Grange Ga but I will do the best I can for you.
                           In haste Yours Truly
                                Luke J. Whitfield