Memphis Tenn Sept 23^rd..62

 

O Sing to me of heaven

 

Dear wife i will write a few more lines informing you that i am not well are you all well yes are you all well i dream of you think of you some times speak of you the other nite i thought i was at home but at the dawn of morn i was in the tent hear as usual away down Tennisee how did i feel how long must i live on this earth

 

Now Ruth be of good chear pleas be happy yes as happy as you can i know tis hard for you to have so much care on your mind, may god for give me for all my sins and forgive me for takeing a beautiful good hearted pleasant girl from her farthers house and mis useing her Some thing sayes to me all will be well o may it be so. now Ruth you nead not let every one see the letters that you receive from me. if i was with you this afternoon i would get you to come my hair and maby it would help my head. i must stop writeing for i feel to bad to write much at a time

 

            3 oclock it is raining we are in our tents some reading some sleeping some writeing now if i knew what you are doing at this time O sweet one do not be discouraged o no for god will suffer me to come to your aid some time O i usd to be so sinful but i am not so now, O no i am a man [stain] pleas tell me all of your troubles and all of your joys i must close these poor lines O i wish i could talk with you and i will write a long letter i think you would get tierd of hearing me talk of scenes of camp life /

 

[faded] there yet pleas

 

kiss the pets for me do the best you can and god will reward you for your labor O for a thousand tongs to sing my great redeamers praise but i cannot be happy hear i must see my wife and children now if you can read this do so the rebbels are close to Corinth 40 thousand there will be a fite there before long. the prospect of a fite hear has played out but we may get in one some whare before long but i think tis doubtful yours forever

               John G Scoville to Ruth Scoville 

 

well i will write a few lines more but i dont know whether you can read my writeing but what you cant read you can ges at and then another way is for me to write better next time children learn to write learn to read learn to spell your farther see the nead of learning now when it is to late yes to late to go to school or learn at home but i have learned lots since i have been in the army yes but what i have learned is of a military nature but i have lerned to keep out of bad company and asociate with steady soldiers but there is great danger of young men going astray there is so many inducements held out

 

But the way is to live to god and pray for his supporting [stained]

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