Memphis         Tenn    Aug 23            62

Memphis Tenn..Aug 23..62,

 

Dear and ever respected companion and beloved children,…i take pen in hand informing you that i am well at this time praying these lines will find you injoying the same of gods choises blessings i write every few days and receive no letters but maby i will get some after a while. i must have patience to indure not all things but to indure the privations of a soldiers life

 

            The Discharge of that War [?]

It is not death to die

To leave this weary road

And midst the brotherhood on high

To be at home with god

 

It is not death to close

The eye long dimed by tears

And wake in glorious repose

To spend eternal years

 

It is not death to bear

The rench that sets us free

From dungeon chain to breath the air

Of boundless liberty

 

It is not death to fling

Aside this sinful dust

And rise on strong exulting wing

To live among the just

 

Jesus thou prince of life

Thy chosen can not die

Like thee they conquer in the strife

To reign with thee on high

 

those lines are in my Soldiers song book i think they are prety, what do you think or what do you think when you think nothing                   John. G. Scoville

 

[margin]

 

if you got the box of clothing you will find a little song book and some other notions mostly taken on the battle field of Shiloh some from corinth pleas keep them untill i return and i will tell you all about them write ofton give my respects to all J G Scoville /

 

well i will write a little more i have just herd that 4 companyes of us are going to St Louis O i hope that our camp will be one of the four. well i think it will for the Magor gave us praise the other eavening on perade. Aug the 24..62 well we was out in town yesterday on general revew the reg made a splended appearance the brigade all looked well. while we marched through the streets the windows doors porticos and front yards of the magnificent dwellings ware filled with ladies and gentleman drest in there fancy Southern atire. we ware drest in our nice dres coats blew pants new hats with eagle bugle and feather on them, and i think our bayonets and gun barrels clisened for they are polished as brite as steel can be made. well that was not home. when i saw little girls in there white, pink, floured and allmost every other kind of dress, and with there black locks hanging a bout there snowy necks and shoulders. then O then it was that i thought of my sweet cherubes that usd to sit on my knee while i would sing some dity and they would sing for me O if i could only see my dear little girls today i would give them some peaches that are in my haversack i bought 12 from a lady this morning for a dime she counted out 12 then threw in one for the baby she said. well i had to turn away to hid the falling tears as i thought of loved ones at home O Dear Ruth will god permit me to return in safety to you i hope he will…kiss all the children for me tell them there pa will shurely come before long if he lives yes he will. now Ruth dont be discouraged pleas dont but live in hopes of better days to come pray for me and for thee

 

yours with my prayers and best wishes John G Scoville

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