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Regiment: 2nd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
May 8th
Franklin Tenn 1863
Dear Clara I once more write
you a few short lines I got your
two last letters and should wroat
but I had no ink nor stamps
no could I git eny, and I
had nothen warth paying three
cents for to write nor halve I was
I can hear the cannon booming in
our rear but do not know
what it means probley we will
hear time enough to suit me, I am
not over and a have anches to git
in to a fight
[ ? ] now we
halve plenty
[ ? ] mast evry
day we ar
[ ? ] night and day
and we ar giting tiard of it but
that is the chance of war I may
halve to saddle up before I finish
my letter no telling, I wait and
see the guns ar varey heavy
hear it comes saddle up and I
[ ? ]
bid you good by for this time
I commence again we had no fight
we only formed in line of
battle and waited for further
orders but non came and we come
in again so I will finish mty
writing to you, the weather
is varey fine to day it has been
raining for three days but
it is beautifull again appleas
ar as large as pigons
[ ? ]
and peaches ar about the
same
[ ? ] and evry thing
looks nice the trees with their
flowing laughs and the lofty hills
that look down with a fently
smile and the gentle breas sweep
by tell us of our health and of
meney plesant day we may spend
if we ar a loud to remain hear
this is a bautyfull plase with
good watter wich makes our cheaks glow with health
well the time is sliping a way fast
two large werey months has past and
gon never more to return since
I left you and it seems but a
moment that I was by your
side, scarcly sixteen months
more and that will set me once
more free, yes free as the air
ar
[ ? ] in the
[ ? ] living in
hope as long as life remains, I think
that it will not take all summer to
camp to some settlement with the
south I am in hops yet of
[ ? ]
I sent you a paper and a book in
your father name to blind talk
my brother directed some things to
him of his except
[ ? ] par at
[ ? ]
bits them is nine two that looks
or like he talk of sending one
pare his
[ ? ] then two I captard
[ ? ] secesh harses I halve the last
horse now your father may look
for some money I sent it long
two week ago and it must come
be for this time, $62, I sent it
by our sutlers and he was to
express it at Detroit prob
ley it is thare before this time
I don’t think I shall draw eny more
pay till this year is out if I do
then I do not want money more
think I can make as I go and the
rest I can save, do not go out to
Clara you ar not healthy enough
to work out and you do not need
to, write when you please and it will
please me, James Phillops you
knew him he was sparking one at the
Wilders girls he was taking prisoner
a month ago, and has not ben hird
of since my brother is at Louisville
after horses with some others
good by my love for this time I would
like to be thare but can not send me
some stamps and keep some yours with
love and joye, Ira Graves C. S
[On Envelope:]
Miss Clara Simonds
Watransville
Tuscola
Mich