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Regiment: 2nd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Cleaveland [ ? ] Tenn
April 1st 1864
Miss Clara
I received your last letter
and thought as I had nothen
to do I would ancer it
I am glad to hear that your
ar all well. I am afraid
that I anthan will halve
a hard time for the first
start for he has not travled
much, but that he will
halve t learn as evry
one elce dos, my rig is coming
home this month some time they halve
[ ? ] in for three years or
[ ? ]
the near that is the most of them
and the officers says that
[ ? ]
all fast because we said that
we would go in December
but I cant see it, all thoe
they halve scart a good meny
in. I think I shall stand out
same says that we ar fast and
I is foolish to stand out
but I all ways found that
if an officer has the power
to do eny thing they never
ask if the soldier wants
to do it or not they say
go do it with out eny words
they say that if we want
munster that we will be cept
in prison the three years
without eny bounty or pay
so you may not see me for
three years for I halve not come
to their turns, but it can
except the later if they wish
to in flict upon me and the
time for
[ ? ] is past
so you need not look for me
till my time is out. I do not
think that they can do anything
with us. I am not alone thare
is severl that will not muster
but if they do try to imprison
us they will halve to keep good
wach of one or hil give them
a smart chase, but I do not
antisapate eny such thing so
you need not loose eny sleep about
it for I
sha[ ? ] give my self eny
trouble about it. Well I was out
in the county yesterday bying
eggs but we could not
[ ? ]
the hens is scarce they go
s[ ? ]
at the Yankees and most of them
died the folks around bear is most
all union vary few secest and
vary nise people to for
southerns, we halve good times
now nothen to do and plenty
to eat and plenty coffee to
drink. you know that a soldier
would not drink anything stronger
then brandy, and that they cannot
git hear so they halve to put up
sick wheet wiskee and coffee
Tell your mother that she must kill the cat
that ait the weding cake with the
[ ? ]
that cut hir
[ ? ], and brok the
knife
well Clara you must not think
hard of what I halve written in this
for I feel like joken a little
to day, and I am sure you will
forgive eny thing that should
not be best right. I was proud
of that compliment, you sent me
but I think I shall decline your
kind ofer until new years than
should you feel inclined to
exstend your offer I will
except of the invertasion with
much plasher and gratefulness
we had a grate snow storm hear
the snow was over a foot on the
level it is vary wet snow
it rains evry other day it raind
most all knight and it raining
yet
[ ? ], I must close soon
by ofern you one kiss on this
corner wich I will present for you
to kiss, then we will kiss one plase
yours with love Ira Graves Clara
[On Envelope:]
Miss Clara Simonds
Watronsville Va
Tuscola Co
Mich
