Grand Junction Tenn March 14

                        March 14^th 1863

 

                                                            Dear and ever loved Ruth and children I am well this beautiful morning hopeing and praying these lines may find you the same. I received your letter of March 1^st with that sweet little card and that anchor that Sibby sent and the little fat minked eyed taty i received it last eavening. O i was so happy to hear that you ware all well we had been out on a scouting expidition and did not get back to camp untill 8 oclock. i was tierd and hungry but i forgot all and let my coffee get cold when Jerry Roads a Sargeant that stayed in camp handed me a letter saying it was maile from Larue and mite be from my [?] O my dear it is hard for us to be seperated so long and so far from each other but we must keep our trust in the lord who can protect us in every absent hour. you wished me to say what i thought about your house and ara lot arangement. well my sweet and thoughtful companion i think you have done for the best yes you have done rite may god bless you and the dear children and protect you all and spead the time when i am with you and we are a happy family once more. well i can get a furlo of 30 days but i dont know what to do ab on count of the rail road from hear to Cairo being torn up by girriles and it will take so long to go on the boats that i would not have but a few days to be at home and then it would be so hard to part again and return to camp life, and it will take about 25 dollars and that / you will need in finishing your new dwelling but i would like to see you all verry m and take walk and see your home and lot. O that we could meet on the banks of that beautiful river yes meet to part no never. now Ruth pleas write as soon as soon as you get this and tell me what you think of the furlo bis business i told you what i thought about the house and lot. now if the rail road is all rite i could go home in 8 days and back in 8 and have 14 days to stay at home but the boats are so irregular and uncertin that i dont hardly know wether to get a furlo or not. i think the war will wind up by the 4 of July and then i can go to loved ones to stay. i have sent in all [torn] dollars (have you received it all) i will send some more as soon as we are paid again and that will be in a few days. the health of our company is verry good i noticed this morning when the sick call was sounded by the bugle that our orderley could not get any one to go to the doctor how far from the river is your lot situated and how much was done to your house when you bought it write all about it and the news and all the rest and how lols folks are Phi i was much pleased to hear from you yes it does me so much good to know that i am not forgotton keep up good spirits O i want to see those fat little girls so bad. well good by for this time may gods blessings be with you all                     

     John G Scoville to

companion and children

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