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November 3, 1863

Nov 3, 1863
Cincinnati Ohio

Dear Jennie?

I arrived here 1 P.M. where we have to remain until tomorrow and perhaps longer as the boys have not all reported yet Our Regt is at Londonville Tennessee I was just down had a negative taken for a Photograph I dont know how they will look it is too cloudy I am to get them tomorrow I will send you two of them [?] do not be uneasy if you do not hear from me very often for Lt. Doty told me to day they had'nt but Recieved but one mail since they left Ky our mail was burned last week before it got through by the Rebs he says it is almost impossible for to get it though but be assured I will write as often as practicable please do the same Uncle John says if you teach aerops the River you must come and see him as often as you can be a good girl and write often I dont know whether you can read this or not but read what you can

Ever Ira Conine

November 14, 1863

Nov [14?]4th, 1863

Jennie here are two of my Photographs pretty well taken for such Cloudy day please get yours taken and send me one in place of your picture as I have a pocket Album and could carry it much easier I will write often as soon as I get to the Regt and give you my address

Ira B Conine

November 18, 1863

London
Laural Co. Ky
Nov 18 1863

Jennie?

As I have an opportunity, Thinking you would like to hear from me I thought I would write again This is the 8th day we have marched and have only came 64 miles we camped 3 miles back of this place last night They had to wait there with the teams for forage so I thought I would walk on to this place and write it has rained incessently for four days and nights, but the sun made her appearance this morning and as the fellow said I guess we are going to have a spell of weather now --- I think if we have good luck I will get to spend Christmas with the boys yet, "New Years certain" I never saw as much mud and so deep in my life as I have seen in the last 4 days it will average half boot tops deep have to lay on the ground every man cook his own rations no tents or shelter of any king where we can find a house at all the roof is off but we are getting along finely but I dare say if you would see me now you would'nt know me could'nt see me for mud just suits me i almost with the war would last long enough so I could put in another three years if it would end now I dont know what I would do I would be out of employment I am expecting to find 3 or 4 letters at the Comp for Ira B. Conine when I get there now you wont let me get disappointed will you? I would give almost ant thing for a letter about now some of the boys that started from Camp Nelson with us give out and some swore they would'nt march though the rain and then lay in the mud and rain all night without any thing to eat so they shouldered their duds and started back by the most of them day they will go through or die unless they stick in the mud for my part I am going through no if or and's about it I feel a great deal better than I did when I started, (had more sleep) I helped kill a nice hog Sunday nice cattle yesterday evening and ere the Lt caught up with the squad I was with we had one of the down and the hide off so you see we had some fresh beef last night if we did have to roast it on a stick some of us will have plenty to eat no use to try to starve us well some of the boys have just come in to town and say the teams are coming so I must close give my respects to all take good care of Sallie and tell her I will write to her and mail it the next Post Office This makes the fourth time I have written to you since I started once to Sallie once to Eliza and one to Oscar now don't ler me go to my Regt and not find a letter there from Jennie

Ira B. Conine

November 22, 1863

Nov. 22 1863
Robinson Cr
Laural Co Ky

Jennie?

As we are laying by awaiting orders I though I could'nt enjoy myself in any other way so much as in writing to you although I have nothing interesting to write to any one but though perhaps it would interest you some to know where I am we are 9 miles south of London as yet we have went in to no camp but every fellow looks our for himself this is the fourth day we have laid here since we have been here we have plenty to eat and drink nothing to do I wrote to Sallie friday night I guess from all appearances they are fighting down in Tennessee (aint I glad I am not there) the road is just lined with citizens getiing out of the way of the fight when we will leave this God forsaken place I cant tell I would give a dollar this morning for a daily paper to learn what they are doing but there is not a railroad with in 60 miles of this place and I have not saw a paper since the 10th of this month but O how I would like to get a letter from some one but it is impossible I know consequently I content myself a best I can when I shall get to my Regt I cant say if you write to me and direct to the Regt be careful what you write for I may never get them if have been raining for the two last days and some what cloudy to day They are going forageing to day They want me to go along if they dont go till I get done scribbling I shall go and I dont think they will for I have written all I have to write at present I am well and getting along fine my comrade that is sick is getting better very fast so he can walk about some think if we stay here 2 or 3 days longer he will be able to go with me to the camp belongs to same comp. I do I must close the uninteresting and take it to the post office about a mile and half from here I forgot to tell you I have captured a mule and dont have to walk I got him about 18 miles from here 9 miles north of London I intend to ride him till I get to any Regt then turn him over to Quarter Master they dont fool Old Conine much give my best respects to my friends and love to Jennie Bysel

Ira B Conine

This is one h'l of a pen I am writing with

November 29, 1863

Sabbath eve Nov. 29 1863
Robinson Creek
Laurel Co Ky

Friend Jennie?

As I have nothing in particular to do or any other way of interesting my self I though I would write as you say I never write to you only when I have nothing else to do but your saying so does'nt make it so does it? Indeed the only enjoyment I have is when I am writing to you or reading a letter written by you although I have'nt read very many from you since I left this time O wont I rejoice when I get where I can get my mail again but when that will be is not for me to tell we are still laying here waiting for orders General Foster passed here to day for the purpose of relieving Gen Burnside he stopped her a minute or two told us we might hold ourselves in reading as we would recieve order to move out in a day or two, God speed the moment. one of our teamsters took sick since we stopped here he was burried yesterday another one sick a soldier died this morning belong to 12 Tennessee Regt passing through here friday last took sick was left here at one of the neighbors died This morning name unknown died among strangers we are going to burry him tomorrow nailed up his box today --- This Detachment of the 118th Regt are all well and doing well to day is our 18th day on the road since we left Camp Nelson and Knoxville if we lay here much longer waiting for orders I am afraid I shall not get to spend Christmas and New Year with my Regt yet --- I assure you I would like to either go backward or forward get somewhere where I could get some news as well as recieve my mail This is all a one sided Thing I have to do all the writing but never mind I will get where I can hear from home sometime if I have luck then you must write the oftener make up losstime I am well but ragged and surley never felt better Oh how I would like to hear from Sallie's I am so afraid that I shall hear that her hand had to be taken off --- Jennie have you all my girl's pictures I left with you yet give Eliza H my love and tell her I will write to her before long again I wrote to mother Friday I hav'nt any thing at all interesting to write but thought perhaps it would interest you some to hear where I was and how I was getting along my love to you and best respects to all I will close this uninteresting as it is bed time

I remains as ever yours
Ira B Conine

December 18, 1863

Dec. 18 1863
Tennessee

Jennie?

It is nearly two weeks since I wrote to you but I assure you it was no fault of mine I found my Regt Sabbath Dec, 13 9 miles east of Knoxville Tuesday we were moved 9 miles farther east Wednesday lay in line of battle all day Wednesday night the Rebels were driving out forces and our Brigade was ordered in front we marched 2 miles further east and our Regt was camped in a cornfield lay in line of battle all night commenced raining about 9 in the evening rained till 8 next morning you may guess what kind of a place we had to sleep water running in the furrow they commenced skirmishing about 7 A.M. 3/4 of a mile in front of our line heavy fighting commenced about 3 miles to our right 2 P.M. and lasted till dark about 7 P.M. we were sent out on the skirmish line all quiet through the night and no skirmishing to day as yet it is now 12 oclock our skirmish line is about 12 miles long if I have know this was the way they was going to run me around I don't think I should have left Massachusetts we are living on something less than quarter rations They march us around from one place to another move us about 3 time a day and once or twice through the night There is a great many of our boys sick and one had died out of our Comp Anderson is well and heard he has'nt heard from Ham since he left Ky only the letter brought him the first mail they have recieved was last monday I recieved one from you dated Nov 25 Anderson got two from home but none from Ham I recieved yours of No. 16 wednesday Anderson received two or three from home but still he could'nt hear from Ham I hav'nt heard from home since I left I got a letter from Oscar and it was good one too but hav'nt had time to answer --- Anderson thinks unless he gets a letter pretty soon he will marry in this state as the government has commenced issuing tobacco to the soldiers and he does'nt use it he will marry a girl that can use it for him as there is plenty of the here You will please excuse this scribbling for I am somewhat nervous makes a feller feel sort o queer to have the Johnny Rebs so close But I guess I will get through I am not at all uneasy as yet I forgot to tell you Anderson got a letter from me thought I was'nt coming through did'nt know where to send it to me so he opened it and it was Julia Graul it was so heavy Anderson was afraid some one would get hold of it so he burned it O, yes Jennie I got to Knoxville Saturday Dec 12 saw one of our boys told me 65 Regt [?] lay about 1 mile from town I went over and stayed all night with John the first thing was how did you leave Jennie and when I did'nt tell him how I left you but told him I left the Third of Nov said he O. I have heard from her since then told me you was teaching he sayd Jennie writed such fascinating letters he cant help but answer but he says Ira now you must not get jealous because we are carrying on a correspondence for Jennie wrote to him first! I laughed and told him I though you was hard up for a correspondent He then went on telling me how he run the girls while he was home he says shoulder straps take pretty well to hear him tell it the girls fell to his feet and worshiped him when he came home I stayed with him till after breakfast he went with me over to town the balance of the boys was gone so I have to go out alone but I found them since then I have been seeing some pretty tough times yet I am well and should'nt complain --- As I recieved yours of Nov. 25 first of course I shall answer it first ---

You ask if I have forsaken you why should you ask such a question this is the ninth letter I have written to you since 4th of Nov. and as forgetting you there is little danger --- Jennie you described your school house which I think was very pleasant place --- would that I have just a pleasant a place and was capable of filling it you hope that will be your last school and ask me if it wont be if war should close in the spring I am sure I cant tell what you might do if should close But I'll tell you what I think you have got a good trade and you have better stick to it --- but as for you having any claim on me since the time you spoke of what has played out but I shall say no more about that as present we will settle that when I come home (if I ever do) If your letters are so very fascinating perhaps you can win those shoulder straps if you are faithful till his time is out I think from the gentleman talk you have gave him some reason for heading his letters with "Dearest Jennie" and then said to me that day when I showed it to you "What a fool" should'nt give a man such encouragement and then call him a fool for accepting it --- I am glad the Photographs suited you perhaps I will get some real ones you did'nt write what was the matter of Ande[?] you think you [?] bare the sickness than have me come away I would rather be here than have you sick and me at home you want me to write to you often I assure you I will write as often as I can and shall expect you to do the same you say Sallie ha one of her fingers taken off which one was it you told me you had been to the party but did'nt say where it was Oscar said George and John Shaw talked of enlisting have they gone? I have got any better written but when I shall get a chance to send it out I dont know for we are in somewhat of a precarious situation at present my love to all not more but remain yours

Ira B Conine

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