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Regiment: 4th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: William T. Sherman
Camp of 4th Mich Cav’y
Near Louisville Ky Dec 16/64
My dear Mother
Here we remain yet, pre-
paring to take the field again as soon as we
can be remounted. For the last month we
have been here receiving horses saddles and
equipments. We are expecting to move every
day leaving now received all that we can
expect. For about a week we have been
engaged in seizing the horses of the citizens
of Louisville not being able to get them speed-
ily enough from the South. Some of us are
asplendidly mounted. I can’t tell how many
hundred dollars worth of horse flesh are under my
saddle now, whenever I take a ride. I hope
we may be able to get away soon as in the
vicinity of a city our men become perfectly de-
moralized and soon are turned into a gang of rob-
bers. It is impossible to keep them in order
or when we were with Sherman his orders were
to “forage liberally” i.e. rob whenever you get a
chance. The men can’t see the difference between
Kentuckians and Georgians. It looks to
me now as if we would have to campaign over
the same ground we did two years ago. We have
rumors of a battle having taken place at Nash-
ville to-day, and that the rebels were Victorians.
If that is the care we have thrown away a
couple of years work
I believe I have now the right to subscribe
myself “Major” having been recommended for pro-
motion on the 11
th inst. I suppose my com-
mission will be here in a day or two. That
probably will be the extent of my military alti
tude. We are beginning to count the months
that are before us. before we can be mustered
out of the service. Our regiment will not
“veteranize” and we will all be civilians
by the 1
st of Sept. We think that those who
have been staying at home making money should
do a little of the fighting, and let us rest for
a little while
The weather here is horrid just now.
Mud up to our ankles. Everything damp and
cold. Tents, clothes, blankets +c moist +
flabby. Rain + sleet filth + discomfort every-
where. I suppose you are having good
sleighing. We shall see none of it. I made
application a few weeks ago for a leave of ab-
sence to visit Greene but it was
“respectfully returned disapproved” so that my
high wrought hopes of eating a Christmas dinner
with you all, were blasted. I have no
idea I shall be able to get away, until I
leave for good. I was very much disappointed
as I felt almost certain of my leave.
Where are Willy and his “[ ? ]” now?
I hoped to meet them in Greene. Give my love
to Selah. Mary and the children. I would give
any thing if I could shake hand with and kiss them
all around, but for the present my kisses must
be preserved to myself. Tell Addie they will be
all the more precious when I give her a few
of them. I should like to hear from Jen-
nie. I begin to think she has totally forgotten
me. Tell her if I am getting to be a little
“passie” I am still good looking enough to
cut out some of the young fellows who are her
present “bean ideals” Uncle Robert is yet a
young man by the side of Uncle Willy + Dave. He
is still in the market.
Why have you not written me lately? I
have not heard from you in two or three months.
From Davidson I do not hear very frequently now
and from Charles never.
Good night. God bless you all. I shall be
with you next September if I get safely through
the coming campaign. Do some of you write.
“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” to the
whole household.
Your affect son
Robert
Mrs. M. Burns
Greene
N.Y.
