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March 24, 1864

March 24, 1864
Camp Mossy Creek

I suppose you will think I am a long time answering yours of Feb. 15 but yours in not the only one that had laid unanswered I have 4 besides yours to answer It is not neglect but want of time one to Ham one to J.C. one to Nelson Conine and one to Anderson but yours must have an answer first The last seven days was have been on the move all the time hav'nt been two long in a place Been either advancing or retreating all the time day and night Last night was the first sleep I have had one week two night that I never laid down at all

Carrying Orders and dispatches all the time we have pretty hard times on march we marched 29 Feb. till 11 P.M. rained all day and night marched next morning at 4 rained all day halted about 4 P.M. next morning started us again for Morristown marched about through the woods till night recieved orders to retreat to Mossy Creek mud about shoe mouth deep and I never saw it rain harder but we must go and dark as Egypt till about 1 oclock the moon made her appearance and I assure you she was never more welcome than then we halted at Mossy Creek about 3 A.M. where we lay with our things all packed waiting orders to move with the morning Then recieved orders to fit up our quarters and remain here It is a very pleasant place to stay but not very wholesome to [?] to get into a fight which is not very pleasant I suppose Anderson is just more than enjoying himself I am glad he is home for laying in Hospital is certainly is not a pleasant take He is not like me or he would never when home till after he saw his girl (many men of many minds saith the Poet) You seem to think there will be some turkey roasted at our house while Apger is home I dont know whether there will be or not but if they know when they are well off They wont roast them without consulting me first id the could'nt roast one for me when I was home they need'nt roast one for Anderson I think I am as good as he is (Dont you?) But perhaps that is a leading question I suppose Mr. Osen has to stand back while Apger is home well it is right that he should learn him how to take a joke You mus'nt think I am coming home just because you dreamed I was It will be some time before I come home unless this war ends two of our Brigade went out foraging to day and the Rebs took them in but one of then got away again he got a little behind the rest wheeled and run They shot at him but missed him so he came to camp all right the other on is on his way to Richmond Just serves him right no business to be a soldier might have had better luck two of the orderlies went to Richmond for all I know Think I shall lay pretty close camp while Rebs are so close J.C. letter started that they were going home as veterans in a few days said he was going to call on Jennie B while he was home if he comes you mush treat him as a gentleman but use your own pleasure about letting him stay not do as Lib Davis because a man happens to be a soldier ran of with him as Lib did with Hylerie last fall

[?] Remain yours
Ira B. Conine

The Rebs took in one of our Regt yesterday he is now on his way Rejoicing (gone to Richmond)
[was added to the margins of the letter on page 4]

April 8, 1864

Camp Mossy Creek Tenn
April 8th 1864

Miss Bysel?

I take that present to answer yours of March 24th and yet how much I regret that I have such a letter to answer? How independent? I did think you had concluded to quite scolding me or throwing insinuations --- But it appears you are not through There are several paragraphs is your last that I do not fully understand --- First, you say you have tried to suit me in every way that lay in your power --- you have not only tried but generally succeeded also glad I am suited in reference to our getting married --- You say you have been looking for me to day we had better not marry at all, coming out pretty plain by saying you think you can suit me in That Jennie if you are not satisfied please state it in your next That I may know what to depend upon As for myself when I come to the conclusion we had better not marry I will inform you of the same --- Again, you think I saved you the trouble of asking my permission to correspond with who you choose by coming to that conclusion and voluntarily giving you the privilege without you asking it what other conclusion could I come to when hearing of your several regular correspondents without honoring me so much as to tell me of the same much less asking my permission! Now as to your lady correspondents, I consider that is your own business, but when it comes to corresponding with gentlemen claiming the relation we claim to each other I think I should know something of it yet I leave it all to you own judgement, But if you will have your own way please dont throw it up to me You think you will consider the matter perhaps you can manage to think of me twice in three months and write as often , Well that will suit me; I will try to answer them if I am not too throug[?] will that suit you? I would like to have both parties suited --- As to showing This letter to John Mathias if I should happen to meet with him is all owing to circumstances if I should meet him and he had three or four letters from you and wished to exchange with me perhaps I might show him one of two of your letters posted or not posted I have never recieved a letter from you as yet that I was ashamed of and when a gentleman requests to exchange letters where they are both from the same lady it would look a little suspicious in my to refuse So you see it is not for the want of respect that I showed your letter you say you presume I cared nothing for your letters is the reason I showed your letter Jennie you know better that that without me telling you differently you asked me to excuse all mistakes as you wrote in a hurry of course I shall excuse you this time but next time you write try and not make so many mistakes in you assertions as you did in you last as that is about all the mistakes I can see

Your letter found me well and in fine spirit some motion of going Veteran What do you think of it?

With this I will Close
I remain Truly Yours
Ira B. Conine

April 11, 1864

Camp Mossy Creek
April 11th 1864

Dearest Jennie?

Yours of March 27th was recieved last eve and I assure you it was far more welcome that the one of 25th inst, and I feel much more like answering it ---

Indeed I think you was very much out of humor when you wrote, I told mother I thought you was somewhat out of humor from the reading of yours of 25th inst, Jennie I do wish you would be more careful how you write, I think if you would you could save a great deal of bad feelings; as will as short answers, I answered yours of the 25th immediately on reciept of it for which I have been sorry for several times since wish I had waited till I recieved yours of 27th dont think I would have written as I did and yet, how could I answer otherwise if you think I was too fast you will excuse me and lay it all to your vary crabit letter of 25th Indeed you gave me H'll did'nt you Jennie? but I shant fall out with you, or quarrel with you about it now --- I think it is no wonder you did'nt want J.C. to see that letter I dont care much about his seeing The answer, yet if you wish to do so use your own pleasure and I am satisfied You wish to know whether I ever feel lonely in the army, indeed I never feel lonely anywhere now an I not a contented child; But I remember quite well the pleasant afternoons we have spent together those were time long to be remembered As for showing you letter to Mathias; I shower none of any importance to you or I either AS to you telling Han what you say you did, I think it would been much better if you had kept it; yet it does'nt make any difference to me if it does'nt to you Han has'nt written to any thing about it, guess she forgot it, hope so, Jennie I have directed my too last letters to Ottawa, I scarcely know where to direct this one if your mother is sick you certainly have not moved, think upon the whole I shall direct to McComb I think from the reading of my letters of late that Mathias and Miss Dilworth are about to make a marry of it as to Miss Kate Green's misfortune, I had'nt heard of it, yet what little I know of the lady I could guess quite easy what her misfortune has been what a pity that some are so are so misfortunate, Better be born lucky that rich had'nt They? but enough, I think you are quite lucky in getting schools Miss Dilworth will have it quite handy Well it is getting late and the bouts are making so much noise in the tent playing cards 25 cents a corner every fellow for himself each one accusing each other of cheating and so on that I cant think of anything more to write Harrie is not in command of the Comp, the first Sergt and the only one in the Comp There is now only 6 Commissioned Officers in the Regt, should be 85 our Comp but know only muster about 80 men when we left Camp dinna it mustered 96 men a little played that 2/3 played out I am well and expect to remain so

I remain as ever yours Ira B. Conine

Direct your letter
Ira b. Conine
118th Regt [?]
Via Knoxville Tenn

April 25, 1864

Capt Howard has resigned and is on his way home or will be ere this reaches you
[on the right side of the letter]

Monday Eve
April 25th 1864
Camp Mossy Creek

Friend Jennie?

For indeed such I shall have to call you after reading yours of April 17th not like yours of March 25th But viceversa a friendly letter --- I have been looking for a letter from you also one from home for more than a week and to day I got one from you but none from home, but got one from Oscar Robinson; I suppose our folks are going to send with Anderson the reason I did'nt hear from home to day When Anderson will join the Regt I cant tell as we are under marching orders, march tomorrow morning five oclock it is not eight P.M. and raining always rains about the time we get marching orders which way we will march I cant tell but I think we are going in the direction of Chattanooga If we move in that direction Anderson will be likely to join us immediately at least I hope so as I am anxious to see those Photographs as well as hear from home verbally which is no small matter to a soldier Thought you would not answer my letter till Anderson got ready to start going to rather play it on me was'nt you keeping me out of a letter so long, better not try that my little gall

Think I ought to prize those Photographs pretty highly? Indeed I would not trade yours off for the best cow on the farm little like the man that lost his wife; rather lost the best cow on the farm Indeed I do remember the night we for lost returning home from Simpson Schoolhouse ---

Suppose J.C. could'nt find a lady to suit his fancy or he would have married; Think Angie must think a great deal of J.C. or she would'nt waded such deep mud, more than mud ankle deep, how deep is that Jane? Think you are able to explain Think Angie is foolish for allowing Mathias to trifle with her as he does? I think she is myself yet I know she cannot help it AS you say it is natural for a girl to have some fellow she is ready to break her heart after and those most dangerous are the soldiers indeed soldiers are a dangerous set take them in almost any sense you wish --- I cant answer this letter as I would like to as the boys are waiting to go to bed but thought if I did'nt answer to night did'nt know when I should get another chance Indeed that was a pretty heavy letter I wrote to Sallie Did'nt think of such a think as showing it to you for you know I was ever very particular when I said or done in your presence No time to write longer as present you will excuse me

I remain yours Ira B Conine

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