Florence, Ala., Nov 1^st 1863

 

            Dear Companion and dear Children

I am well  O that i knew that you ware well we have stopt hear at Florance to wait for some of our division to come up i am tiered and expect to be as long as i remain in the army…yes i need rest. i slept well last nite for the reg was out on a scout and i slept a lone (big Jerry) a Sargent that i bunk with did not croud me. now my dear Ruth i cannot write write much now

 

            Nov 7. well dear Ruth i am well now we have come a long way since i wrote those first lines and had no oppertunity of mailing or writeing this letter. we are now in Tennisee on Elk river we crosed tenn river at Watterloo a small town then we came to Elk and / it was wide and all most swiming to a horse so we went back to small village 5 milds distance and campt for the night next day started rather up stream to flank the old thing, and we traveled over some hills yes rather mountains whare the rocks ware steap and rugged yes and crosed several streams on rocky ripple ware knee deep and cold and as wilde and some of them wider than old Skunk at Smedleys Mill. we would strip off our shoes and socks shuve up our pants then plunge in like so many mules some of us come out with bluddy feet but that was nothing harness up and travel on, on, on, carrying our blankets haver sack, cartrage box, canteen, and gun, some times we boiled chickens or jayhalked fresh port or molases. we did not receive much rations from uncle Sam so we got 2:thirds of our living from the sitizens or we past along and sweet potatoes and honey by the bucket full sack full brim full, but i did not steal any thing for i always would think of my children and wife / at home now they are mounting the reg but i dont like the way they are doing it takeing horses from woman and women and children and they crying and beging for us to pleas leve there riding pony or there bugy horse or there plow horses so that they can raise some corn to keep ther children from starving next winter. i know that there husbands are in the ranks fighting us but some way it dont look rite to take there horses unless we can take them in action by bare fright we get a few that way, but it is from small bands of girillas we got 250 hogs that ware fat going to the rebel army the 15 mounted men that ware driveing them skedadled. our mounted squad capterd one good horse and one man the balance got away by our men being half drunk. (thank god i have the first time to get drunk yes the first cards to play the first swareing to do and the first time to get in the gard house thats so 

 

O my dear Ruth pleas try to keep up under all your afflictions the lord says tho they are light that they work out a far more and exceeding and eternal weight of glory

 

Maby furlows will come in play again and if they do i will get one and come home but thank the good lord they cant keep me but untill the 17 of July next then i will get an honorable discharge and my dimes and then if i live i can return to my dear family with a pure heart and a clear concience and willing mind and will to do all that i can for the comfort and wellfare of loved ones at home sweet home. we stopt hear in the woods last night and i thought i must write some but i dont know when i can mail this i sent 40 dollars to you i put it in the post office at Iuka is my little gran son well is lol and John and Phy Prinny Sibby and little Ruth well oh i hope and pray that these few lines will

 

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find you in good health may gods blessings atend you all,

                                                            John G Scoville to Ruth

                                                and beloved family. pleas write ofton

 

                                                                                    direct to Cairo ill

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