Syracuse Mo Feb 16..1862

 

            well Dear Ruth i will commence a journal letter while sitting by the fire and by the stand in the union house as we call it. the old gentleman of the house is 83 yrs of age he minds me of farther Chapman

 

O Bary me in the vally

Beside some rippling stream

Whare blooms the modest lilly

Amidst the emerald green

 

And whare the featherd songster

Will build its downy nest

Amid the fragrant rose trees

that bloom above my breast /

 

O Barry me in the vally

Whare early comes the spring

And whare the towering holy

Will lasting beauty bring

 

And let the distant sunset

its golden crimson shed

Upon the murmering watter

that glides besid my bed

 

Burry me in the vally

Whare tender breezes blow

And let them mermer gently

My requem soft and low

 

And let the glisning dew drop

Be pearls upon my breast

With quaintly carved through marble slab

to mark my place of rest

                        JS to JS

                        good lines

Ruth be of good chear and all is well /

 

            well we have have just had our bible class read it is Sunday the soldiers day of rest and the day of rest for all that will rest well we need rest if any set of men does for we have to labor hard at drilling and throwing up earth works garding and lots of other work pap Chapman do you expect to cach fish in the Scioto in the spring Phi you must do all you can for mother and sisters to and be kind to all you chance to meet in lane or village or in cottage street well the rebbels are getting whipt at Springfield old price is getting thrash like fury O if we was there to there a fare pickin /

 

Feb 17..62 dear Ruth i want to go to kentucky but I will not go unles i have to i want to go to Ohio and will go there to for there is so much fighting in Mo and none in Ohio

 

i commenced this for a journal letter but i will send it now we are posted in war news our men are whipping them right about now     JGS

SOURCES