Written on letterhead paper:
U. S. Christian Commission, Rev. Shepard Wells, Field Agent. Rev. O. W. Fay, Local Agent.
Little Rock, July 22nd.. 1864Dear Friend Han..
Your letter of the 8th.. Inst is Recd.. with Pleasure.
I was Glad to Hear from you & that you Had gained your Health again. This leaves me in moderate Health only. I Resumed Duty on the 13th.. Inst & Have Bin on Guard Several times Since & I am Doing verry well & I Hope when this reaches you that it may find you well & Enjoying your Self. I See Will P. on yesterday. He was well & Hearty. the Boys of Co. A are Mostly well Except Some of the Recruits Our Co. Has lost Some 4 men In the Past month, to wit Ol. Cattern Died on the 23rd. June. Wm.. Carhart was Drowned on the 1st.. Inst. Robert B Miller Died on the 5th. Inst & Joseph Warren Died on the 13th.. inst. This Summer will take off many of the Recruits.
Capt John M. Porter Started Home on 30 days leave of Absence on Yesterday & will Reach Albia Ere this Reaches you If He meets with Good Luck & If He gets Home He can tell you all the News from Little Rock.
I Fear Capt Porters Health will not Permit Him to Return to us again. Though I Hope He may gain His Health & get Back & Remain with us while in the U. S. Service For I think there is But few Better men than Capt Porter. Sergt.. Marshal Law is our 1st.. Lieut Now & will be Capt If Porter leaves us But I Hope that Capt Porter may not leave us.
Well Han,, you Stated that you wished me & Will could get a Furlough Home. Well Indeed we would love to Come Home you may Be Shure But it is almost Impossible for a well man to get a Furlough when Sick men can not get them when it would Save many Dear lives I Have no Idea of getting Home untill the Expiration of my time of Service. & If Permited to live then I exspect to Return Home & See the People & Eat Peaches. We Could get Home This winter Coming By Reenlisting as Veterans for 3 years longer But I am not wanting to get Home that Bad yet a while.
I did think when I left Home that the war would not last over 15 months But now I would not Be Surprised If it last 5 years. Though it may Close Soon & I Hope it will. But I am Pretty certain it will not close Ere our time of Service is out
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Well I Have No News of Interest to write at this timeThe weather is verry warm Here & there is Considerable Sickness Among Soldiers Citizens & Refugees & many Dieing off. There is not much Fighting going on in this Depmt. But Considerable Bush whacking up & Down White River & along the Rail Road But it don't Amount to much as yet. Well I believe that I Have told you all for the Present. Please write Soon & give all the News & Particulars & what for times you are Having up in Iowa & If my Luck is Still living & on Pleading terms-----------------------
After my Best wishes & Respects to you Beleive me
Verry Truly Yours
Newton Scott
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