Sedalia Nov 24..61     Company F 6 reg

                        Iowa vol, J G Scoville to his family

 

Dear companion and Children and relations generly. i write to you informing you that i am exceedeing well hopeing these lines will reach you injoying the same blessing we are still hear antciously wateing our turn for the cars to convey us to St Louis it is verry cold for this part of the country we bought a stove yesterday for our tent there is 18 men in our tent that stove only cost us 40 cts each well we take some comfort around our little stove when we are of duty. there are many inducements to lead the cristian astray but thank god i have led a strate forward life so far and would coninue to so to do if i should remain in the army for years. O how pleasent a thought when i retire to sleep on my pallet of straw to have a clear concienc i have spent many a happy hour reading my little testament thank god for the happy thought that when days and years are ore we all will meet in heaven /

 

we had some new recruits yesterday from Clark Co there was 6 came all strangers to you except Aaron Johnson well Warsaw a town on the osage river was burned a few days ago. our side burnt it to keep the rebbels from getting provisions that was there it is 40 milds from hear it was a cesession town anayway we think takeing everything in consideration that we will all be at home between now and spring i wish i was at home now but if we never meet on earth a gain we will prepare to meet in heaven whare parting will be no more whare joy and peace forever reigns whare all our trauls will be ore whare parrents greets there children whare husband and wife meets to part no more O thank got for the happy thought let us continue to serve the lord that we may reach the fare eadan of love let come what will i expect to live a cristian life and die the cristians death we still have a preacher with us he reads a chapter and offers up a prare everry eavening on dressperade Children be affectionate and kind to / your dear and kind Mother who has taken care of you in your infantcy and watcht over you many a anctious hour yes do every thing in your pour to comfort her yes to chear her up in her dark hours. Philander be steady and industrious be good to your little sisters O how i would like to be with the children and Ruth and spend the remainder of my life with you but gods will be done. give Joy or grief give ease or pain tak life or friends away but let me find my friends a gain in that eternal day. the Soldiers life is a hard life they have many hardships to under go but they are in a glorous cause. they will fight untill the stars and stripes shal triumphantly wave ore the land of the free and the home of the brave. we are very much attached to each other we seam like a band of brothers when one gets any rarity to eat he shares it with his mess mates i tak comfort in nursing and fixing up sompthing for them to eat. well Ruth i am a soldier in everry respect i am well drild i under stand the rules of war and the hardships of camt life /

 

O Ruth the remembrance of happy days we spent together often come to mind at midnight hour O may we yet spend just as happy years. i dream of home of being with you walking in the garden and setting in pleasent bowers well we are far a part but let our hearts be much atatcht to each other farther Chapman stay with Ruth to be company for her and keep her in good spirrits. Ruth Laura Philander Princes Silvy and little Ruth be of good cheer. your affectionate husband untill death            John Scoville to his family

 

write soon       direct to St Louis mo company F 6 reg Iowa vol

SOURCES