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https://micivilwar.com/authors/graves-ira/
Regiment: 2nd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Tenn Oct 30 63
Deckard Stasion
Dear Clara
It is with much plasher that I once
more set down to write you, I
halve nothen to do to day but to write
to you and so I will try to write you
a good long letter. I am in the best of
health and plenty to eat and nothen
much to do. I am on the
[ ? ]
and we halve not got much to do
now onley to ride a round and
see that others do not run out of
camp we go out morning and
at wattrin times, and the rest of the
time we halve to sleep or run a round
or write to our sweets harts or play
cards or smook siagars or eny way
that we can muse our selfs we halve
had a hard time of it lately and now
we ar on a rest for a while till they
want a nother raid maid and then
we ar on hand like a mitten
it is raining to day but what do i
car for that I halve got a good tent and
nothen to go out for onley to feed my
horse and he has been fed this morning
I am as contented as a pig
[ ? ] a plenty
and lard down to sleep, well that is a soldiers
life, but that is not going to last all ways
nor is my time going to last all ways for
the time is fast drawing nigh when i
shall be free from the army and I can
come back to the ones that I love so
clear, well dear, it is said that we will
come back in July, that we halve our
forlow time counted in and if we do we
will come back in July or the last of
June. Oh how I hope it is so onley
eight months more still how long the
time seems yet, but it will soon
then I will come back to your arms once more
never to leave the more I halve hird say
that time would chill bone and it would git
cold but I can not say so for the longer
I am from you the more I think of you
and may the heavens protect you from all
harme, what sad knews I hear from some that
lives North, yong blooming wifes that was
left to home the tender care of their
husband harts all that they prysed dear
in this world and had to go from them
at that call of they country to fight
for their freedom whare ar they now
lost yes, lost for ever, their prid has
fall in thir virture lost and they are
the bravt of the earthe, not onley them but
yong tender
[ ? ], or beautyfull rase that
was jest opening their golden leaves into
life, whare ar they, same still ar floating on
the wings of heavenley love, and same as
cast off they halve last all, theyr once blooming
cheek sinking and pail, and never can retain its
[ ? ] again, what sad news for their friend
to hear theyr last in thought they rush to
battle field madley and expose themselves
and ar last in that garlf of deaths
well I must bring my long letter to a close
soon we halve not got our pay yet
they are making out the pay roles and
we will soon be payed off
if we don’t halve to go away
I halve six months pay due
wich I shall draw this time
and then I will not draw eny
more till I am discharged wich
will beten months more
some of the men ar talking
of enlisten again but
they may if they want to
but I shall come home
you must write soon
give me all of the news
that is a float and remember
me as friend in that
hart of yours, yours with love
Clara Simonds Ira Graves
[On Envelope:]
Miss Clara Simonds
Watransville
Tuscola Co
Mich
