Memphis Tennesee Sept 2nd..62
R L P P S R
Dear family i am midling well. o i think that i must some way get home…but the officers will not give me a furlo, or discharge, either one at present so i must be a way from
you all 1 2 3 4 5 6 i would be 7
(R L P P S R) yes a way in the army or fix on some other plan and i dont aprove of any unjust way of soldiers leaveing there companyes but i wanto be with Ruth and children and try to be of some benifit to one that i have so long been the cause of so much i wish that i could say hapyness well maby i will the day yet that i can…i must live in hopes if i die in dispair kiss the babes for me yes pleas do Ruth dearest
John Griffen Scoville to R Scoville
but now i am a soldier
my captains gone before
he givenen me my orders
and tells me not to fear
Laura i would like to see you before you are anothers but mother can give you good advice i think she will O my dear child tis hard for me to give thee to another if i could write a good long address to you but i must close and wipe away some tears and go down to the river bank and see what is to be seen and pass off my grief
remember o remember
the one that nersed you
and remember your farther to
Laura how is
Silva write
soon yes
lonelyness
willo [picture of tree] tree
poor tree Phi can beat it