Sept 16, 61

Camp Jesse

Company F 6 regt

Iowa vol St Louis

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Dear family it is

with great pleasure

I write to you this

Sabath morning

I am well at present O may these lines find you all the same I have been sick several times since I have been a soldier but through the mercy of god it has not lasted but to or three days at a time. Well I do not know as i have any perticlar news to to write but it does me good to write to you and am very thankful for the happy priveleg this is a beautiful morning I am seting in a little grove of small trees in front of our tents /

 

I wrote two letters and sent a pen magazene to Marysville

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O Ruth pleas write often to a poor lonsom soldier O how it greaves me to think how much trouble i have caused my family O may I be forgiven if I could live my live over how much differantly would I spend it but we have but one life on earth to live O how promptly we aut to discharge our duty to our familys and friends and to our god this world is full of trouble and sorrow but there is a place whare our troubles will be ore O may the remainder of our lives be spent in the lord that we may meet in that happy land whare we will not take the parting hand whare the silent tear near is shed whare peace joy and happyness forever rains O may it be our happy lot to meet on to meet on that happy shore /

            the Missionary

 

And O the rich reward that wates

A work of grace like this

A life of love a death of peace

A heaven of endless bliss

Earths proudist noblest bliss honors fall

Far far below the prise

He gains who claims this work his own

In relms beyond the skies

 

Praise to our farthers love

With the first dawning lite

Who wachful drew his angel gard

Around us through the night

And while so many die

Or lost in anguish weep

Or on the couch of suffering tost

Gave us this blessed sleep

 

With everry bird that sings

Amid its nesty bower

May our voices sweetest strain /

Harmoneously assend

Untill through Christs dear love we gain

the day that knows no end

 

well we are hear at St Louis yet all we have received from govement yet is to each man one pr pants one pair drawers one pr shoes one hat two blankets cartrage boxes and haversacks.

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Well I have just been to the hospittle to help put one of our fellow soldiers beneath the clods of the vally it is getting dark and I must close I may get a furlo this fall

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Sept 17 it is just day light it is raining verry hard I am write on a pile of loves of bread i know you will do for the best so I need not say anything Let me know how your are geting a long write soon kiss toty and sibby and Jimmy and Phi and Lol for me.

              John G Scoville

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