D. H. Blair, Company D, 45th Ohio Volunteers, 2nd Brig, 1st Div., Army of the
Cumberland
Jan. 19, 1864
Dear Sister Lizzie and friends at home one and all.
What am I to think on account of your long quietness have you forgotten me or forgotten
how to write or what. I have not had any letters from you since the Knoxville siege that I
remember of. I have written time and again but no answer. still I have heard some from
you by the letters of the neighbors. Newt Bennett has had several since I had one and that
is not fair you know.
We are both well and getting along finely. We have got the forage about all used out of
East Tennesssee and our horses are about all starved out We came here on the 17th and
have turned our horses over to the Quartermaster as unserviceable. We have drawn a new
supply of clothing and also shelter tents. so you see we are going to live if the war does
go on. We have been seeing some hard times out here in the snow without tents but we
have got our tents now so it may snow away. Last night it snowed and the tent blowed
down on Newt and me but it was better that way then up. It kept the snow off our
blankets. I think when we get home he and I will get window blind a piece and a couple
broom sticks and go to keeping house
Cumberland Gap is rather a rough looking place. It has been quite a nice scene but there
has been an army here so long that it is rather filthy in mudy wet weather. I am sitting at
the foot of the Cumberland range. They rise far away up above me almost into the clouds
and their tops can be seen as far as the eye will carry both east and west. We have a far
better view of them here that we had where we crossed them before. There is artillery on
the tops of the mountains on both sides of the gap. on the east side it is 170 feet abov the
gap. There were several very large cannon rolled over the bluffs there in 1862. when old
Bragg and Curly Smith came into Ky. and tried so hard to get to Cincinnati and
Covington The cannon are lying there yet.
There has been considerable talk of this regt going to Camp Nelson Ky. ever since the
siege of Knoxville. I never would believe it until lately I begin to partly believe it Our
horses are about all played out and about half of the boys have lost their guns and there is
not much signs of geting either guns or horses here. Still I don't think we will get to go (if
at all) until old Longstreet is cleaned out. They have him in pretty close quarters with his
barefooted troops out about 35 miles from here and it is supposed that he will either have
to surrender or travel now soon. His men are deserting by hundreds and come over to us
Many of them barefooted in the snow. and very well satisfied with southern rights.
I have not heard from either Sam or Jo for some time. I saw the 1st Ohio regt and several
of the boys from old Logan county. the 66th was not up this way. I had a letter from
Martin last week. they were well also Uncle Wm Martins and they were well
We have not had many letters or any papers so we hardly know what is going on out side
of East Tennessee There has none of this regt or brigade been in any fights or skimishes
since New Years they are leting us rest a lttle and I think it is time, for we were always in
front before I want you to send me a few stamps to write to my beaux Write soon
Respectfully your brother Dave H. Blair
I send $40.00 that you will get from Wm Ramsey.
