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Regiment: 4th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Andrew J. Smith, Hugh J. Kilpatrick, John B. Hood, William T. Sherman
Head-Quarters 1st Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division,
Department of the Cumberland,
Near Sand Town GA
August 30 1864.
My dear Mother
I suppose Davidson has written
you informing you of my safe return from one
of those raids which have lately ended so unfor-
tunately in this department. On the night of the
17
th we started and after going away around both
the armies of Sherman and Hood returned on the
22d. having travelled about 150 miles, fought seven
battles besides skirmishes destroyed three or four miles
of rail road, captured one battery of three guns from
the rebels and having a very hard time of it generally.
In our Brigade we lost seven officers and ninety nine
were killed wounded and missing. I fortunately escaped
without a scratch though sometimes in dangerous
places. During the nights of the 17
th 18
th 19
th and until
2 o’clock of the night of the 21
st we did not have a
hit of sleep except what we snatched in our saddles.
We had but three meals and not very much time
to eat them in. We started out under Genl. Kil-
Patrick and he being a good deal of a raider led
us something of a chore. We were attacked by cav-
alry, infantry and artillery, but managed to be e-
nough for them all. We had with us about
4500 cavalry and eight pieces of artillery. We
made I suppose, the greatest cavalry charge of this
war, our brigade completely routing and demoralizing
two brigades of rebel cavalry. We need only the
sabre and cut the rebels down right and left.
I sent a sketch of it to Harpers Weekly with
a short description, which may appear in a
week or two. In the N.Y. Tribune you will also
probably see accounts of our expedition.
We are now on the North bank of the Chat-
tahoochie River about 14 miles West of Atlanta.
We have been permitted to go to the rear for a
little while to rest and recruit. We have been
since the opening of the campaign continually at
the front and are nearly worn out. We
started with 2400 men and have about 800 with
us having lost two third of our numbers. Of
course there were not all killed but have been
sent back sick and dismounted. We have lost
250 in battle. This has been a long and
tedious campaign and the end is not yet. Our
army now is moving to the South of Atlanta to try
to cut off Genl Hood from his supplies. I hope
we may succeed as the campaign is a wearing one.
I am very well of course are now and then
a little sick or worn out, but have nothing to
complain of in regard to my health. My principal
trouble now is my hair, which is beginning to get
quite grizzly. I have for some time given up the
idea of pulling out the white hairs. This for a
young unmarried man is something serious. Do
you not think so? I shall have to dye when the
war is over. From Willy I have not heard
lately. We have all sorts of rumors that the
Army under Genl Smith is on the way here and
I am very much in hopes that I may see W.
soon. His three years will expire in a few
weeks and I presume he will then be going home.
I want to see him before he starts. What are
you all doing now in Greene? Are the children go
ing to school? and has Jennie become resigned to
the idea of giving up a life in the city! Tell her
I will call on my way to New York and see how
she bears the dignity of long dresses. Not one of
the children have ever written me a line. I wrote
Mary on the 4
th inst. I think. which letter I presume
she has received. I would like to hear from Selah.
Give my love to him to Mary and the
[ ? ]. Good
bye God bless you Your affectionate son
Robert
Mrs Mary Burns
Greene
N.Y.
[On Envelope:]
J. Davidson Burns Esq
Kalamazoo
Michigan
