May 20^th..62 camp 5 milds

from Corinth, near state line

between Mississipy and tenn

 

Dear Ruth i received your letter of the 4 of May i was happy to hear that you was all well it does my verry sole good to hear from loved ones at home but i was sorry to hear of the loss of your team well maby i will fetch a span of mules or brown mares home with me they sell verry low at cairo or St Louis. i think i had better bring home a team of some kind. the reason that i have not sent this letter untill now is because i could not get stamps. our forces and the rebbels have ben fighting / some for 3 or 4 days we have drove in there Piqqet gards prety well in side there fortifycations but they will dodge out in little squads and whack a way at our piqqet gards but an aufal distructive battle will undoutedly take place in a few days it may commence today god save the union. well i do not think i will be able to go in to this battle i am verry weak with the diareah which i have had 6 or 7 weeks O for health a gain what i would give

 

O Ruth kiss the sweet children for me. you have my daily prairs O may god bless and spare your lives untill i return John Scoville

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