tennisee State, tennisee river, Savannah

 

March 14..62, i write a few lines this morning i am not verry well but still able to walk about out on the boat we the 6^th Iowa boarded this boat at St Louis, Mo march 9 we have been 2 days we had a good long ride but i did not injoy it for i was not well i caut cold on the confounded cars coming from Syracuse to St Louis there is 50 or 60 boats heare containing a reg each there is a place 15 milds up the river well fortified by the enemy supposed to be hard to take but we have gun boats to attact them by watter the infantry will be landed and give them lead pills cold at that we expect to cut our way through and plant our stars and stripes on their walls we will take the place or dy trying or we expect loes some men but what of that as for myself i am near ready as i ever will be unless i could see Ruth, children and / scenes at home. home that is a singular word home. home sweet home…tis sweet to those at home but gods will be done,…the people this portion of gods green earth is in confusion and scattered far from there native land of freedom and land of love well i let them scatter and and let the surrvivers return to their wives, mothers, farthers, brothers, sisters, and pleged sweet hearts, O it is raining i might go belo to my bunk but it is so warm there i am writeing this letter in a covered waggon on herican deck but i cannot send it out side the fleet for orders have been given to that effect maby Ruth will get it some time and posibly i may hear from her a gain would to god i could receive a letter to day it would relieve my troubled brest…John G Scoville to Ruth S and Laura and all the rest of children, Savannah tenn

 

March 18..62

            Pittsburg landing tennisee river

 

well the troops are landing verry fast here the bluffs are steep and rugged the river is uncommon hy. there is about eighty boats here now and we expect more daily each boat has a reg of men except the gun boats and commisary boats this landing is a magnifficent scene to look upon. our reg is the farthest out they are out 7 milds i went out with them 13 milds but we could not get the enemy to attact us so we marched back 6 milds then we chose our camp ground i was sick and tiered (Yes tiered and sick) well thare was a detail of 10 to a camp to go and unload the boat so i made my way to the landing worked some sick some stood gard 2 hours cooked some ate nothing. then i was discureged but the next day brought me some relief the poor mules hauld our things to camp

 

March 22..62 well we have our tents up on tennisee soil i am still unable for duty to day i can set up and write these lines we miss our stove we have some fire in the tent but it smoaks us some the mud is belly deep or hub deep from / the landing to our camp our men are briging the creek bottom to day it is one mild long and half under watter 500 men works to day and 500 tomorrow then we can get our teams a crost whenaver ever ordered to march. the army on our side is strong, the enemy is not on the river as i stated in the fore part of this letter but they are at the junction on the rail road they are reported to be strong

 

they will get whipt thats so well i want to be able to help do it and i think i will. well it is half past 3 oclock i must go to head quarters and get medison for the nite John G Scoville to Ruth Scoville and children

 

may god protect them untill i return to them O Ruth write to me if god spairs my life i will return to you, yes to your relief keep in good chear the war will soon be ore did you get that money $25 the las letter i have received was Feb 20 21 and 22

SOURCES