Camp at Lagrange Tenn May 25 63

 

Dear and affectionate wife and children

i am exceedingly well i have just been up town to get some tobacco and paper i stept on some scales and i weighed 177 lbs i cincearly hope these lines may find in as good health. well the war news hear at present are verry chearing but i suppose you will get them in the papers before you will get this. Vixburg is reported to be ours with 30 thousand prisioners and lots of artilery. they took Haines bluff first and turned the enemy own guns (large cannon) upon them

 

i am cooking now therefore I did not go out on scout with the reg this time. they have been gone 5 days and they are in a hard fight at this present time down at the Tallahachee river about 50 milds from hear the few that was left in camp has just started with some forces to there relief i did not get back from town soon enough to go i feel uneasy as to the wellfare of the boys and wish i was there to take an active part in the battle and help them mop those confounded bug bears but maby it is [faded] am hear although i [faded] feel that i would not [remainder faded] /

 

the rumbleing of wagons of a reg that is mooving in neighbors to us and a lovely mocking bird in apple tree is all all most that can be heard and every thing seams to be happy but poor me and some times I allmost think I am happy too. but O my dear Ruth how much happier i would be if I ware by your side again O the blessings and happyness of being at   h   o   m   e   and with loved ones there. none knows the worth of home only those that are far distant from it O my sweet children keep up good heart your farther will shurely come to you yes dear ones if the good lord spaires his life O Ruth i feel intierly resined to the will of god yes my lif is in his hands O thanks to his holy name he has kept me safe thus far and i trust his grace will bare me onwards through this cold and chearless world and when this life is ore take my never aging soul to relms of never ending bliss. what a happy thought. well those first three have not received there furloes yet they have had to be sent to Memphis to be signed and have not been sent back and there is no telling when [faded] mine therefore i think [faded] money to you [faded] might nead it /

 

verry much and it is in danger of being stolen out of my pocket there has been lots of money stolen in the com Harland Stuart stole 13 dollars the other day from one of our corporals took it from his pocet while he was a sleep. my dear family i cincearly wish i ware with you this beautiful night but alas i am not but you have my prayers every eavening as regular as the eavening comes O Ruth pray for me as i know you do dearest and i believe our prayers will be yet answerd and we will yet spend happy days together. O may it be so what comfort we can take in our declineing years yes i hope there is happyness in store for that sweet form that has been so misused and yet has been so pacient with all thy troubles so goodnite i will finish in the morning

 

                                                                                    May the 26^th             well it is morning O if i only knew that you were all well and doing well how much shorter the days would seam to be it has been some time since i have herd from you and i sometimes feel uneasy we will be [faded] soon. the time that [faded] my first so i want [faded] all the money i have [remainder faded] /

 

O home dear home dearest and best

 

how i long to be there and its pleasures to share and from war yeares take rest

 

Now Lol i am happy to know that you take so much comfort and cincearly hope that your life and pathway may be strewed with flours and sunshine O Lol live so in youth that you bough not in age, yes reath to thyself a sweet garland of flours to ware in that uper and brighter world whare pleasure never dies

 

now John i must say a few words to you, are you a christian if not delay not to seak the pearl of great price that your life may be happy while on earth and then a cristian to die so sweet and then sore to relmes of eternal bliss

 

Ruth give my respects to farther Chapman the dear old soul and to Rugles folks and to Carlines folks, (i aught to write to that dear sister) and may gods blessings abound. you all keep of good heart this war must end one of these days and the [faded] go to there dear familys [faded] pleas write ofton [faded] happiness it is to me [faded] affectionate

                                                                                                            John G Scoville

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