Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/burns-robert/
Regiment: 4th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: David S. Stanley
Head Quarters. 1st Cavalry Brigade
Department of the Cumberland
Near Murfreesboro Tenn Feb’y 7./63
My dear Davidson
I have sat down here with a pen
full of ink which I think I shall spread out and
send to you though what I have to say, and what to
write about is more than I can think. Since
writing you on the 3d I have remained quietly in
my tent, not yet being able to do much riding. Our
Brigade has not yet returned. Where they are and
when they will come back is more than I can
tell. We think they may have gone to Fort Donel-
son , as they were in pursuit of Wheeler’s rebel cavalry
when last heard of, and the latter, I see in the
Nashville papers, were in the fight there. Our
camp is lonely enough, but I keep pretty closely to
my tent. To-day I have been listening to heavy
cannonading, have indeed for the last three days.
Our forage train was to-day attacked and that
is what we have been hearing. I will give
you one days experience in camp, so that you may
know how we run the institution when we are
not on the tramps. I am at present running
the Brigade issuing orders +c which all Colonels
Captains, Majors +c in camp have to obey. Here
our Brigade pickets three roads which pickets slid
be relieved every day so I generally issue an order in
the evening to such a regiment to furnish so many men
to report here for picket duty at 8 o’clock A.M. At 8
they come and I send them out on which road I
please, giving them directions what to do +c. If
we want forage we cannot relieve the pickets
as there are not enough men in camp to do both
duties. This morning for instance about 1
o’clock I was awoke by an orderly from Genl Stan-
ley directing me to have our forage trains before
his Head Quarters at 4 o’clock. So up I must get
and write orders to the different Regiments to
get ready their trains and report here at 3.45
They reported with 74 wagons, 200 men in them
armed to the teeth who act as foragers i.e. gather
the corn and hay, and about 150 men mounted
and arived, as escort to protect the train if attacked
They go over to Gen Stanley’s where they are
joined by other trains manned in the same way
This morning they started off about 250 wagons
3 regiments of infantry 600 foragers and 300
mounted men also from pieces of artillery, quite
a little army you see. They went about eight
miles when they came upon the enemy’s pickets
and skirmishing immediately commenced. The
mounted men infantry and artillery went forward
and into the fight, while the wagons and foragers
scatter themselves a little in rear and visit all
the corn fields, barns, hay stacks, corn cribs +c
they can reach and fill their wagons. Everything
eatable for horses is taken. Receipts are given
to the owner if he wishes them. Should he be able to
prove his loyalty, he may sometime get his pay; it
tainted with secessionism pay never with be forth-
coming. As soon as the men get the wagons loaded
they general do a little foraging on their own account
and visit all the smoke houses, barn yards chickens
preserves, and cellars they can enter. The trains
usually come in loaded with corn +c. If you should
life up the top layer you would find hidden
under the straw, chickens, turkeys, hams geese,
bread, jars of apple sauce, honey and whatever the men
can forage, i.e. steal. They generally manage to
get enough to season their hard tack and bacon
The officers I suppose try
very hard to stop them
When the train was loaded our men gradually
with drew, leaving the enemy, and protected the wagons
to camp. Thur it is almost every day. The
rebels are about 8 miles from us and every twenty
four hours cannonading can be distinctly heard
here. Our camp is one of the most advanced and
all that is between us and the enemy are a few hun-
dred pickets. We sleep as soundly however for all that
as if in Kal’zoo. One after a while gets accustomed
to this sort of thing, and does not think how he is
situated. Several of our men were wounded to-day
but it is not much noticed. Ten die of disease
where one is scratched by a ball. Company “C” have lost ten men
died in hospitals. I do not think you know any of them. Capt Melchor
has been for weeks sick in Nashville. He tried to get a furlough to go home
but it was not granted. It is much easier to resign than to get leave
of absence. Thirteen of our officers have already resigned and gone home
and a half dozen others are trying to. Co’s C + D are the only Co’s whose
officers remain as at first that is, who have non resigned. Lawton
is now 1
st Lieutenant in my place. Hudson of Co. B 2d Lieut in Lawton’s
place. Most Buck is
[ ? ] 2d Lieut in Co B. A Iswon is orderly
Sergt of Co C, Lawton has been writing some letters to Harrison giving
in detail our movements. I wish you would get the True Northerners con-
taining them and keep for me.
Feby 9,
Yesterday I did not feel like writing. This morning I am better
suddenly
very much better and think I shall be able to go on the next
scout. I hope I may. One Brigade is not yet in. They have had
a cold tramp and a long one. Last night I heard of the death in North=
ville of Jas M. Bierce of our Co. He is one of J. D’s mortgages. I wish
you would find out whether his wife can pay or not. Henry Iswon is
for us arrived there the day before yesterday. I wish you wil
send me some more postage stamps. We have not yet received one
cent of pay since we entered the service and I have not had a copper to
bless myself with in over two months. This is a literal fact. We look
anxiously with longing eyes and remarkably empty pockets for the paymaster. How-
ever I can stand it. One cannot spend anything here except foolishly. Some of our
officers owe the Sutler $500 or $600. My bill is only $44. Do you not think
that is doing exceedingly well for me ? We hear here that the North is getting
tired of this war, that a strong peace party is springing up in Michigan. Is it
so? It is rather discouraging for us to think that the people for whom we
are sacrificing so much, care so little for us. This was business to very dis-
tasteful to me I would much rather be at home but am perfectly will-
ing to stay during my three years. If only backed up by those who like to have
others fight for them. They do not know what the soldiers sacrifice and suffer.
You can have no idea of it unless you see and try it. I had not. No
pay will compensate them, and yet some of our Copperheads are grumbling and
growling at them. None of the said C’s had better show themselves to this
away. When the Soldiers get home they will have a reckoning with them.
I have not heard a word from you since enclosing the
letter from Jat. That was written before the battle. I suppose
you have since and the letters have not reached me. Do write soon
I do not know whether you received mine. I wrote 28
th Dec 4
th Jany + 16
th Jany
vignette photographes of myself and one of the full face, full length ones such as I had taken at
Grelling’s when you were with me. Is Mother with you? She expected to be before
this time. If not let her know that I am well and doing well. As I said in my last I
am the A.A.A.G. 1
st Cavalry Brigade. This I mention now because you may not have received
that. Remember me to friends. Love to Mother. Write me soon Yours affect brother R.B.
[On Envelope:]
J. Davidson Burns Esq
Kalamazoo
