Stevenson, Ala, Dec, 25,..63

 

            Dear family it is with much pleasure i write to you again informing you that i am verry well hopeing you the same. we have stopt hear to rest it being Christmas day. O whare will i be next Christmas. will i be with loved ones at home (yes) if life sustains this mortal frame. O how i would like to be at home with you to day what joyful hours (yes) joyful and happy to see smiling faces beam with chearful affection hope sympathy happyness friendship and love 

 

this morning while i was prepairing my breakfast (consisting of coffee and crackers and small rations at that) i was thinking of years ago when we lived so pleasently together then o then we of naught but happyness and we could spend Christmas Newyears so pleasently, but those gone by days are ore and we must look forward to happyness in store, yes

 

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Oh Hail Columby if this

ant Jan 1^st 1864

well i thank the lord for all earthly blessings. my health is good as yet trusting these lines may find my dear family injoying the same we are now in winter quarters i have worked hard to day / makeing shingles to cover shebangs to shelter us from the howling storm

 

Jan 2..64 4 oclock in the morning by fire light in the door of a wedge tent freezeing on one side and burning on the other, so i guess i will be excused for not (wrigting or) writeing better or more of it i have no war news. this place is on the railroad we are stationed near a depot so sowbelly and hard bread and grocerys comes to us in car loads and clothing i would injoy myself better if i ware at home but as i am not tis my duty as a cristan soldier to be as happy as sircomstances will permit smoaky tears stops me at this time / good by for the present

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( Scottsbourough) is the name of this small village Jan 3..64

yes Scottsborough Ala

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as i am on gard to day and it being Sunday, i can finish this letter and get a little rest, for i have worked too hard for a week or so and slept to little which must i do reinlist for 3 years more or express my money home to reinlist i could fetch it my self

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well i dreamed of                                                        i am in a

loved ones at home                                                     peck of trouble

last night so i                                                               but the lord

will send the money                                                    will help me

to you and come                                                         out if i properly

my self as soon as [?]                                                 come to him

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i can thats my duty                                                      yes i think so

as a christian soldier                                                               John G Scoville

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