this will not start untill tomorrow 22 I wrote once before i got this

Aprile the 9——————62

O Ruth keep of good chear all will be well yet may god bless you

 

Dear companion I now take my pen in hand to answer a letter I have just brought from the office and read which I feel to thank god that your helth is on the mend but still you may not git your helth very soon we are all well at present hopeing you the same jane is better and gone home pap and Phi is clearing up 2 acors par potatoes now john you spoke of staying in the war to git your bounty wall I dont want to discourage you but you may have to stay all summer or longer may be give your precious life from your dear little children that is now watching every train of cares to see if pa is coming and your wife think one moment O john if I advise too fare forgive me I will tell you how you can make your bounty hear and be at home Carolines man Mr Cilkelly is have give up his bounty and chooping rail road wood for cash and he wants pap and Phi to hawl it for cash he wants hawling all summer you could haul for him after you git well he will pay the money now john think of this and if you think best to come home do so but delay not for if you git better they will not let you off if you can git a discharge do if not git a ferlow the confounded big men has fooled me and lots of other poor wiman out of our money so if I was you I would let them dig for thear selves awhile I am afraid if you stay in the war your expectation will be cut off how happy I would be if you was at home if you / just have money enough to bring you home I think not of money but my dear husband if you think of comeing come soon if not write soon and let me no no more this time but remain your affectionate wife Ruth Scoville to

                                    John G Scoville

 

i have no paper nor money to buy with so i will write a little on this to Ruth Scoville

 

Camp Shiloh Pittsburg landing tenn Apr 21

well Dear Ruth and children i received this letter yesterday it gave me much joy to know that you was all well. i am far from being well tho i was able for duty 2 days since the battle it has been so rainy and i have been soaked so often that i had the bilious colick hard last nite i am better this morning but can eat nothing we get nothing fit for a sick man to eat well you seam verry anctious for me to come home well all things considered i think it best for my health it is poor enough now and i think if i ware to stay in the service 3 months longer i mite never see home or loved ones thair, but god being my helper i think if i start soon i will reach Larue a mear vestage of what i once was a change of climate and manner of life may rapidly improve my bodily strength but gods will be done he doeth all things well O Ruth i long to be with you once more on earth so when one or the other of us is caled to leave this green earth we may know of a truth that the sole has gone to Jesus to injoy sweet eternity. i must get what uncle Sam owes me and my discharge, which will take me nearly home free and let the bounty go to the bugs i will tell you my narrow escape in battle when i get home the fighting was hard the battle ground a horid scene   John G Scoville

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