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Regiment: 4th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: David S. Stanley, Edward M. McCook, George Stoneman, John M. Schofield, Joseph Hooker, Joseph Wheeler, Theophilus T. Garrard
In the trenches before Atlanta GA
August 2, 1864
My dear Davidson
Your last two I received
yesterday. 14
th + 24
th I think. You are improve-
ing. and may after a while regain your
firmer position. We are soldiering
now with a
[ ? ]. Our horses are
five miles in the rear and we to-day are
doing infantry duty in the dirt. I am sit-
ting on the ground writing on my knee sur-
rounded by the debris of an exceedingly dirty
infantry camp. If we ever get clean again it
will require an immense amount of wasting.
On the 31
st we returned from the raid on which
we started on the 27
th and of which I wrote you
on the 26
th, without accomplishing much thanks
to the want of generalship of our Division Commander.
Last night at dark Genl. Schofield named
over to the right of our army, and our +
Wilders Brigades were put in the trenches
to occupy his place. 2000 men to fill
the position of 14000. We occupy the
fortifications they built, and are about
1 ½ miles north east of Atlanta. The city
can be seen from our works. The rebels
are between us and the town under
cover of strong entrenchments and forti-
fications. I can see them by moving
but a few rods from where I sit. As
I write I can hear the picket firing but
a short distance in front. The whistle
of our occasional bullet over us is also
audible. The fighting here has been
very severe lately. If the rebels now
should discover that Schofield has moved
and made make one of their attacks upon us,
it would be “good bye” to Minty and
Wilder’s Brigaders. Tho’ we would fight
our best. We are here as a cover to
conceal Schofield’s move, and to keep
up the appearance of a force here.
On the 27
th three expeditions of cavalry
started off raiding to cut the Atlanta and Macon
R.R. The 1s Division under Genl Ed McCook
was to go from the right of our Army and hit
the R.R. where he could. The division from
the Army of the Ohio under Genl Stonewan was
to go from the left and hit it where he could.
Our Division the 2d under Genl Ganard was
to accompany Genl Stoneman a part of the way
and keep what rebel cavalry attempted to follow
him from him. We all started Ed McCook
with his division has been captured. Genl
Stoneman has not been heard of since and
is supposed to be a
[ ? ] too. We moved
out about 20 miles went into camp and before
the next morning were attacked by the rebel cav-
alry. Instead if trying to bother then and keep
them from following Stonewan. Ganard concluded he
would take care of himself and return to Decatur.
we easily broke through the slight chain by which
they had surrounded us and pushed levineward. Genl
Wheeler seeing that we were not intended to trouble
the RR went after Genl Stoneman and may have
taken him in out of the cold. We thought we ought
to have given W. Wheeler a tug. It is supposed that
Genl Ganard will be relieved on account of the perform-
ance. I
[ ? ] we may got a good man in his place
what a life we lead! Since the 1
st of May we have been
continually on the move. Have not been clean once since
have been leaving fighting almost every day. Can get us
clothes, hats, boots. We are ragged black + uncombed
have not received a cent of pay since Dec 31
st. To crown
all there is a little insect in the woods here called “chick-
ol” or “jigger” which now almost torments us out of our
senses. It is so small that it is almost imperceptible
It piercer the skin and makes a terrible itching. My
body is covered with the marks of the remorseless little
monster. I can do nothing but groom and scratch as
the chickol is too small to be found and taken off. We
all suffer terribly from him. We are also troubled
with wood ticks, scorpions and all sorts of accussed
bugs. The other night a snake ran a cross my body
when asleep scaring Capt Thompson who was lying near
are almost out of his seven reuses. I knew nothing of it
until next morning. Last night we were marching un-
til 2 AM and then had to lie in this nasty place on
the ground without even a blanket. To-night at 1 AM
we are to leave here and move I don’t know where, pro-
bably to assist in the assault on Atlanta to-morrow.
Our men are tired exhausted, dirty and healthy. We
hope we may have a little rest when Atlanta is taken
The cavalry will not probably as we weill have to do the
work of Stoneman and McCook. I wish there at home
who grumble because the army does not do better were here
to see what in done. Let them look at the immense works
thrown up under the fire of the enemy. Let them abare
in our discomforts, night marches but rides, dirt, bugs
filth want of sleep of beds + clothes, danger, skirmishes and
battles and they would cease grumbling at the Army. You
can form no conception of our manner of living. It is im-
possible for one who has not seen it. It makes us all
prematurely all too. I look at best six years older than
when you saw me last. This campaign has told on
us all very much. We think we have done a great work
and mean to do more. Atlanta may be considered ours
now. Our work will not be finished until we nearly
destroy Hood’s army. Genl Hooker has gone
East. I am sorry for it. Genl Stanley who was here to
see us a moment ago is now in command of the 4
th Army
Corps. He gives us the pleasing information that the rebels
have been in the habit of daily shelling this
[ ? ], and
that we may expect one at any moment. Pleasant! isn’t
it! I am not particularly anxious to he saluted by
any just now. Good bye. Mike says “dinner is ready”
and I must sit down to “coffee, hard tack and bacon” Mother
Earth is our table, Give my love to Madge
Your affect. R.B.
[On Envelope:]
J. Davidson Burns Esq
Kalamazoo
Michigan
