yours with respect J G Scoville

 

Aug 3 62         well i thought this paper was made 12 years ago but it is good enough

 

Aug 3 62 Memphis tennisee

 

Dear companion and children i write again informing you that i am well, but this hot wether is rather more than i bargained for all tho i keep up far better than i anticipated. i am cooking yet i have to do my work mostly in the eavening and morning when we call it cool the reg is at town this week guarding our camp is stationed at the depot. well we have got a nice place now buildings for sleeping, but our cooking shanty is in the rear some 2 hundred yds. well away from other neighboring cookerys but i like it all the more for its secluded situation there is some [stain] and some romantic scenery the deps of this [stain] are very large it is 1 mild from the boat landing i have not been to the landing yet but i think i will [stain] go to the shop to get my watch cleaned i think it is durty that it has stopt 3 times in 2 months i think i will put that box of clothing on the boat the same day. this is Sunday O [stain] in Larue or some other town in Ohio i would go to church and hear an old fation methodist minister i think i would injot injoy my self far better i guess i can read some in my little testament [stain] spite them. our camp has got to swaring and drinking some but i cant help it [stain] them but they head me not. well i believe that my reproof of them

 

                        Aug 3 62         them and spite

 

thinking cap. [stained, faded] J G Scoville /

 

a          a          a          a Soldier well that is for my health but the musketoes and dogs and rats bother me so much that i do not sleep much i must tell you of my little Secesh boy that came to my cooking shed 3 or 4 days since he is 6 years old only [faded] the next day after we came to this citty all men who would not sware to be loial to the union had to skedaddle well this boys adopted farther and mother left for Miss and left the boy in the care of his aunt well she whips him for not going a way and he runs a way because she whips him and so it goes. well he was hungry i gave him some supper then i requested him to go home. well he fell a sleep on my blankets while i was washing dishes he was drest sweet and clean he has blue eyes fare skin and his hair just curly enough to be pretty O Ruth my heart was full when i looked at him sleeping so sweetly i wondered if my dear ones were resting as good. well i kept him all night [stain] alone O how nise we slept together but the musketoes bit the little fellow some. well he staid with me last nite he eats with me. O if i [faded] home he would be such a pet for Philander i want to hear from home i have herd nothing since the 2 that i got when we arived here some 3 or 4 [faded] write often and i will do the same [faded] chance as soon as i can if the war

                                                                                                            [remainder faded]

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