June 21st..62
Lagrange tennesee
Dear companion and children
I will write again i am just midling well O may these poor lines reach you and find you in reasonable health none but those that have been sick can rightly prise good health. i was sorry to hear of your poor health i have not had any word from you for a long time. O yes i received one letter a few days since, i would give lots to get a letter today but i must try to be content if i dont
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Lafayett June 23th..62
O Dear Ruth Laura, Phylander, Princis, Sylva, Ruth and all the rest…i write a few more lines informing that i am allmost well. O may these / find you all well this little town is rite in a dence forrest situated on a river bottom the rail road pases through i we have posesion of the railroads in this part of the country but the rebbels destroyed so many cars and bridges that we cannot use them to advantage yet but we are building the bridges that they burnd and will soon have things strait again so that (we the grand western army) will show the scamps that the yankyes as they call us can whip them any place take any of there best fortified cityes and wipe out the curse of slavery
well i wish i was at home i ame getting home sick would to god the war would end so i could return to Ohio / Now dear and affectionate Ruth and sweet children hope for the best dispair not be of good chear look to crist for aid he can wipe away the widows tear and soothe the orfants cry…O may it pleas god to sparr your lives and mine untill we can meet on earth again yes what joiful meeting it would be…pray much pray for me a soldier far from home exposed to the fatal shot of the enemy and the diseases and hardships of camp life we will be apt to stay hear a few days and continue our march to Memphus we do not expect to have much more hard fighting to do maby some skirmishing and bush whacking and girilla fighting /
write soon please do. i get no now days i supose you get more war news in the papers than we do hear in the army so i will not undertake to write them. i could write lots of news but what would it amount to well i must close these few poor lines it is verry warm and dry hear i have just shaved off my whiskers
Send me word how much money you have received in all i will send a little in this letter (kiss little tote for me)
O singe to me of heaven
John G Scoville to his
dear family and friends