blair3

Jan. 24th 1863

Lexington, Ky

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Sister Lizzie,

I take the chance of writing a few lines to you We have marching orders to march tomorrow and we have but very little idea where we are going Col Runkle has just got back from Ohio and they have the report that he is getting horses for the whole regt but I dont believe it I hav an idea that we are going to Louisville and then to Nashville

We have orders to have 3 days rations and that is the way we tell about the length of our march and then guess where we are going

The camp is all hurry and bustle getting ready for the march. Some are sending a lot of thing home in boxes

Newton Bennett and I are sending a lot to Huntsville and you will have to send there and get what I sent

There was some others sent with us and the box will be opened there I sent my dress coat a pair of pants a shirt and a canteen Luther may have the canteen. I thought it would be something new for all of you to see The rest of the clothes you may keep for me I bought the pants and shirt, and paid $1.75 for both of them that canvuss I dont want. It is the kind of stuff our tents are made off.

N Bennett is not very well but is not to say sick I guess he is taking the yellow jaundice. Well I have to close up as I have to send this into town by Ben McKinnon He is a nurs at the hospital there and is not going with us. You can write and direct thus

D. H. Blair

Lexington, Ky

1st Brigade 2 division

army of Ky

Co D 45th Regt O.V.I.

I was vaxinated yesterday

I had a letter from you just a few days ago

April/63. Guarding the Cumb. river, often scouting beyond the river and engaging the enemy under Col. Cheneault, often at or near Monticello.

Left Somersett June/63, went to Jamestown, Ky. [7] Had a picnic at Jamestown on July 4th and in the evening started in pursuit of rebel Gen. J. Morgan and about 5,000 rebels raiding northward [8] Crossed Ohio River into Ind. at Brandenburgh on July. Followed enemy up along Ohio River into State of Ohio. [9] Engaged enemy while attempting to cross Ohio River at Buffington island in Meigs Co. Ohio. Capturing the majority of the raiders after following them more then 700 miles between July 4th and July 19th/63, which is date Buffington island engagement. Returned Cincinnati on July. [10] Started and went home on July 29th/63. Left home July 31st. Returned to Cincinnati on August 1st. Started to centrel Ky. about 12th, arrived 18th.

[7] I was still with battery. On July 3th regt went on scout to Columbia, Ky. Were near surrounded. Captain captured by patrol. Bennett and Downing both wounded in necks.

[8] Col Cheneault killed while attempting to take Green River bridge. Rebels capture train on L & N RR; mail strewn along route.

[9] We were received and treated through the entire route on free soil with greatest enthusium and kindest treatment but have to travel so fast and lose so much sleep that we are unable properly to appreciate respects.

[10] Returned to Cin. on steamboat "Starlight"

Augst 21st Left battery and started to join regt. at Crab Orchard, Ky. arrived at Crab Orchard and regt had gone on with the rest of the command into east Tenns where we followed them through Mt. Vernon, London and overtook the regt while crossing Jel{l}ico mountain below big rock gap. [11] Passed on through enemy Kingston, Tenn and arrived at the Loudon {TN} bridge in its smoking ruins on Sept. 3. Crossed the river on Sept. 4, lay at Loudon till the 5th then went to Philadelphia. [12] A few days then on down to Sweetwater and to Athens and towards the Hiwassee River. We were driven from the river on ___ and fell back to Sweetwater then on Oct. ___ we retreated on back to Philadelphia where on Oct 20th we were entirely surrounded and after some severe fighting cut our way out with heavy loss in prisoners and losing all baggage, camp equipage and wagon and ambulance trains.

[11] Cross Jelico on Aug 29th

[12] On Sept 6th Zimmerman, Wirts, Rogers, Neal, Baggs, Moffet, Moor were captured with Lt. Williams while driving cattle. Lt. escaped

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	Jan. 24th 1863 Lexington, Ky ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sister Lizzie, I take the chance of writing a few lines to you We have marching orders to march tomorrow and we have but very little idea where we are going Col Runkle has just got back from Ohio and they have the report that he is getting horses for the whole regt but I dont believe it I hav an idea that we are going to Louisville and then to Nashville We have orders to have 3 days rations and that is the way we tell about the length of our march and then guess where we are going The camp is all hurry and bustle getting ready for the march. Some are sending a lot of thing home in boxes Newton Bennett and I are sending a lot to Huntsville and you will have to send there and get what I sent There was some others sent with us and the box will be opened there I sent my dress coat a pair of pants a shirt and a canteen Luther may have the canteen. I thought it would be something new for all of you to see The rest of the clothes you may keep for me I bought the pants and shirt, and paid $1.75 for both of them that canvuss I dont want. It is the kind of stuff our tents are made off. N Bennett is not very well but is not to say sick I guess he is taking the yellow jaundice. Well I have to close up as I have to send this into town by Ben McKinnon He is a nurs at the hospital there and is not going with us. You can write and direct thus D. H. Blair Lexington, Ky 1st Brigade 2 division army of Ky Co D 45th Regt O.V.I. I was vaxinated yesterday I had a letter from you just a few days ago April/63. Guarding the Cumb. river, often scouting beyond the river and engaging the enemy under Col. Cheneault, often at or near Monticello. Left Somersett June/63, went to Jamestown, Ky. [7] Had a picnic at Jamestown on July 4th and in the evening started in pursuit of rebel Gen. J. Morgan and about 5,000 rebels raiding northward [8] Crossed Ohio River into Ind. at Brandenburgh on July. Followed enemy up along Ohio River into State of Ohio. [9] Engaged enemy while attempting to cross Ohio River at Buffington island in Meigs Co. Ohio. Capturing the majority of the raiders after following them more then 700 miles between July 4th and July 19th/63, which is date Buffington island engagement. Returned Cincinnati on July. [10] Started and went home on July 29th/63. Left home July 31st. Returned to Cincinnati on August 1st. Started to centrel Ky. about 12th, arrived 18th. [7] I was still with battery. On July 3th regt went on scout to Columbia, Ky. Were near surrounded. Captain captured by patrol. Bennett and Downing both wounded in necks. [8] Col Cheneault killed while attempting to take Green River bridge. Rebels capture train on L & N RR; mail strewn along route. [9] We were received and treated through the entire route on free soil with greatest enthusium and kindest treatment but have to travel so fast and lose so much sleep that we are unable properly to appreciate respects. [10] Returned to Cin. on steamboat "Starlight" Augst 21st Left battery and started to join regt. at Crab Orchard, Ky. arrived at Crab Orchard and regt had gone on with the rest of the command into east Tenns where we followed them through Mt. Vernon, London and overtook the regt while crossing Jel{l}ico mountain below big rock gap. [11] Passed on through enemy Kingston, Tenn and arrived at the Loudon {TN} bridge in its smoking ruins on Sept. 3. Crossed the river on Sept. 4, lay at Loudon till the 5th then went to Philadelphia. [12] A few days then on down to Sweetwater and to Athens and towards the Hiwassee River. We were driven from the river on ___ and fell back to Sweetwater then on Oct. ___ we retreated on back to Philadelphia where on Oct 20th we were entirely surrounded and after some severe fighting cut our way out with heavy loss in prisoners and losing all baggage, camp equipage and wagon and ambulance trains. [11] Cross Jelico on Aug 29th [12] On Sept 6th Zimmerman, Wirts, Rogers, Neal, Baggs, Moffet, Moor were captured with Lt. Williams while driving cattle. Lt. escaped ------------------------------------------------------------------------