North America

Keokuk, May 15, 65

 

Dear family i am well hopeing you are the same i wish i would get a letter from home for some unknown reason i dont hear from you for some time well i wate maby all is well…yes i hope you are not so unkind as to say well he is coming home soon and whats the use of writing so much no you are to good for that thats so

 

            Jef Davis is captured he was taken in Ga and a lot of other rebble officers with him old Jef put on his wifes dress but he did not / fool our boys that way his wife sayed dont make the President mad he mite hurt some boddy. well now the war is shurely over and our soldiers will go home to there friends O i can not express my feelings no but i know that i long to go home to roam no more i have seen enough of the sunny South well i must say some of it is beautiful but i want to spend the remainder of my life with my dear little family yes, yes, and try by the help of grace of god to comfort and care for you tis all i can do 

 

i am not happy hear

 

my calculations are at present to get 40 acres of land in Ill if i like it there and try to farm well the fact is i wanto settle for life i dont want to fix up a place to leave for some one elce (thats played out more tomorrow

 

after noon of the same day Ruth you must not think hard of me for not being home sooner for i cannot make them do as i pleas you see they take them in different grades and i will have to wate till my turn comes but i dont think i will have to wate long

O beautious earth whare is thy charms

Whare is thy happy hours

Gone away from me in forms

Of leafy sun lit bowers

 

Return sweet hours of love

And sooth this lonely hart

till Jesus says come above

And there to never part

 

O if i ware with you i could begin to be happy well what is the use of feeling as i do ill just be joyous and true and try to be resined to my fate O what a thank heart i ought to have that i am alive only think what i have went through

 

J.G.S. to Ruth and children

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