Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/graves-ira/
Regiment: 2nd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Abraham Lincoln
Lebanon Ky, 12/1863
Dear Miss Clara it is with the grest of plash that I write
to you and hope in due time that I shallhear from you I
[ ? ]
not hird from you in so long that I most think that you halve
pargating that I am a live I halve writing to you twice since
I havehird from you but I will try once more, thu tings and
our the old saying is, I am still at Lebanon and think that i
shall stay hear all winter if Nathan happens to me, you must write
all the weks that you can think of and if you halve found one
that suits you, for you know that you send that thare was
plenty of boys thare and prity ones to, thare is plenty girls
hear and plenty
[ ? ] to if a person seeks it, all thoe I would
like to see the girl I left behind me, you know how that was
one that is call my life to me I wish that I was thare with you this winter
but that cannot be for I am bound as the slave is bound, to what
bound to one that is called the President, one that has trampled
our
[ ? ] under his feet and stand uppar his own plan for
the
[ ? ] of our grate and glories ration one that would sever
our clames and one that the law has allways uphilled till he
took his chore, one that we trusted was a man of honor and would
do
[ ? ]steps to all, and now whare is he, trying to fru the negro when
he once
[ ? ] that he was not for freedom he did not wished to
malest their wright nor claus that they killed in the south
he has broke his trust and whie should we onor him as our
gardien as for our trust in him that boys broken it, no never
I where said it and I will not change it I never will fight to free the
slaves and if it comes to that I am don figtten, I will keep
my frames, I swore to fight for the laws of our land
not for the freeing of slaves you my not see me for year to
come for I will stay hear with the south if that comes
to be a law and Kentucy never will fight for that nor
will any reasonabul man any man that I as gut
his right mind will fight for that eather
they are holding meeting hear to see what shall be done
and they swore that they as Ky and they never will
fight for any suck laws and they will carey the
day hear and I never will live them eather
I am for their rights as well as northern rights
if it must bid for well to my northen home I must
say good by to all for it could not live thare with
out being in the ware they would forse me whether
I wanted to or not, and I am cound news to fight for what
I know is not right it do not think slavery is right
but they halve him aloud to bye and see them and make
a ryler sale of them up property for the ninty ninth
years then they wish to stop it on the hundreith
this state is going for the Union and nothen elce and
I and with them for the same you may think that strong
in me glor it was for Lineu and would be yet, if he
was true to his plege Ky is all rip and shrare that
they will go with the south if they carey out theyr
plnes they halve laid out, and, had can blame them
it is raben Kentucky, they war treted worse then
any other state when the Army past threw hear
the Union Army I mean they burnt their
fences stake their chickings killed their
[ ? ] and
took their catle and corn and whare is their pay
for all of their thir thing not one peney can they
git for all of their things all they had in the world
was taking and they can beg for their living hear in
ourminds one of the best state of the Union and to
think that such a thing will be, aloud is Kentucky
as reble state and they want hir to prave hir Loitly
when she has fifty thousand men of the best that
ever was but put in the field halve we any reason that
they should not git their pay I speak what I
know for I halve see it and know it to be true
but lot politick drape and we will talke of other matters
it may be a long time before we may talke again for if that
comes, which I hope
[ ? ] fail we may not have the chace to write
but may god for bid any such a thing to come to our land it would
like to see you vary much and if nothen happens to me I will come
as it went single and free as I came my mind is on the and never
will change from that, you may think that I am gasen you but wait
and see if my words is not true will you wait to prove my
words do I speak to you in this way to fool you, no never
halve I fould any one nor never will in that way for my
love for truth is to grait you must write soon for I wish to
hear from you and tell me all of the news that you can think of
and if you had a good time New Years and whare you was and
hoo wwas thare with you, I was hear in this plaged Hospital
and can not leave it to go any whare only downtown and
that I have to do whether I want to or not, you must write what
has became of Steel and if Rooss ever came back again he went
to Onio from St. Louis it seems all lik a dreem and I something
think that I am driving a long dream and can not a waik is
it true I same time say to my self is it true I thiat it is real and
that I am awaked and am I hear in the south and can not go
home, write a good long letter when you do write for not
writing sooner you may of written and I may not
of got it if you halve written you must write two
direct to me, Leebanon Ky and I think it will
come safe dont wait till you can find nathen elce to do if
you halve a
[ ? ] comes to see you at the time this reaches
you, you must send him
[ ? ] until another time, and
write ancer to it for he can come another night just as well
and see you, it is giting late and I must stop for this time
and I havle some other writing to do to might so rembmer
when you read this if you can think that it was writing by
one that loves you and you only it may be the last one that I
ever write to the my hopes in God Ira Graves Clara
[ ? ]
Will you think of me
Will you remember me
Will you wait till the Sumer
Will you welcome me then
Will you greet me then
A long good by to the for fear
We may never may more
Meet again your with love
The Summer comes about the birds
They come to but shall I ever meet
With you
