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Regiment: 4th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp 3 miles beyond Murfreesboro Tenn
Monday Evening January 19, 1863
My Dear Cousins
Your very kind and welcome letters of Dec
28
th I received the day before yesterday. I also received one
from you about two months ago which I have been intend
ing answering for a long time. I had at that time just
written you and our letters passed each other on the way.
I wrote Davidson on the 16th inst giving an account
of my experience during the battle week which I requested
him to send to you. I suppose he has or will. In that
I have told nearly all I know about war, and will
not repeat it here. I have seen but one account
of the battle; that was from the Cincinnatti Enquirer corres-
pendent. And he makes it out a most glorious thing
for our arms. We here are in most total ignorance how
the outside world looks at there fights. In fact we
know very little about them until we read of them in
the papers. Seeing a battle and reading an account of
it are very different things. He does not make much
mention of the panic and fright of our soldiers on that
Wednesday morning when our right was surprised. We
were back a little but I saw men running without
arms, bareheaded, teamster cutting loose from their wag-
ons, infantry men mounted on mules all rushing to-
wards Nashville in terror. We stood and saw them
pass expecting the enemy on us every moment, but none
appeared that day. The next day, New Years, they gave
us a turn however. I had then gone to the front and
was not in the little quarrel. Where I was however
was were driven back by the rebels’ artillery. You
have never heard the music of a shell whizzing and
shrieking over your heads going “thud” into the earth
and then exploding making a hole large enough to bury
horse and rider. I have several times. Bullets we
did not care much for, but every one crouches and in-
voluntarily dodges when a shell or cannon ball passes
near him. They give one an idea of such irresistible
force. Our regiment was divided. (about five miles
apart,) on the morning of the 31
st. I was obliged to
remain with the rear part the first day. but on Thurs-
day got permission to go to the front with the rest. I
was for several hours hunting them up. and rode over
nearly all the battle field in my search. It is diffi-
cult to find a few hundred men in an army of 40
or 50000, and they all the time shifting their positions
In my ride I saw some horrible sights. Dead men
in all attitudes, and all places. To bury the poor
fellows they were scratching a hole about 15 feet
by six, and a foot deep, into which they trumbled
them heads and points as they happened to fall, face
down or up or might be, rebels and federals together
and then covered them with about six inches of
earth. From Dec 26 to Jan’y 5 we were nearly
every day under fire, but never in the hottest of the
fight. In a battle the infantry generally are the
greatest sufferers. Cavalry is not much used. We
are usually worn out by fatiguing marches night rides
dashes of 40 or 50 miles etc. For instance our reg-
iment, except the sick and those unfit for duty left here
on the 9 at midnight without tents, blankets or rations and have
not yet returned. We are looking for them to-night. It
has rained nearly every day (this being the rainy season)
and for two days snowed. They have been obliged to
sleep out in the rain and mud with no shelter ex
pecting to be gone only one day. We hear they have
been in Kentucky, but do not know.
We here in camp have been trying to be as comfort-
able as possible. I am in my tent sitting on a camp
stool, all alone, using the bottom of an empty flour
barrel for a table, with a nice warm fire in a Sibley
stove, an earth floor and dry and cosy as you please.
My furniture consists of the aforesaid stove, stool over
barrel, a box in which are my
best clothes a cot
and a little pile of split wood. On my cot are an
India-rubber blanket, a horse blanket, two army blankets
and two over coats, which, when I intend to dream,
constitute my bed and the covering. In my inventory
of furniture I have forgotten my saddle, bridle, sabre, two pistols brier-wood
possessions. Horse, I have none, the rebels having gobbled
up two for me on the 1
st. I am at present using
Major Gray’s, who is absent in Detroit. Have you seen
him yet, Jot? It is raining hard out, and I can
hear it patting merrily on the tent fly. but what do I
care? I am dry; and shall remain so, for I myself
ditched around my tent to-day knowing the storm
was coming on. I shall not be flooded out unless
we have a deluge. The regiment has just come
in soaked. They are jolly though, and merry as larks.
Are they not going to sleep under a shelter to-night? and
have not their comrades been preparing them a warm
supper of foraged (stolen) poultry, mutton + haws?
Will they not find letters here from their friends at home?
Some of them are mounted on mules they have confis-
cated, their horses having given out on the tramp.
They are dirty, wet, uncombed and unwashed, but they
are in fine spirits. They have come into camp, can
eat as much as they want to, and will probably rest
for a few days. Such is a soldier’s life. How
do you like it?
I have been the Adjutant of the regiment
for the last month. I like the position much better
than that of a company Officer. I am by it relieved
from going on picket, foraging, doing guard duty +c. I
tent, mess and live with the Colonel. I also have
much more authority than before, even more than
any of the Captains. Our meals are served regularly
too, and as we have a fair cook we manage to have
them tolerably done. Before we used to cook them on
a stick eat them with our fingers from a chip and
live in the most primitive manner. Officers gener-
ally fare no better than their men. You may think
that a small matter, but I find it makes a
decided difference in one’s health. Out of 42
officers we have only about 15 fit for duty. I
have been very well except at the time I wrote
you from Mumfordsville, and for the las fort-
night. I am now however getting better and
shall be on my horse again in a few days. I
am contented when well, but when sick, am blue
You would think to see us here, that this was a
poor place for a sick man, but somehow we manage
to get well. The mud outside is ankle deep, our tent
walls are wet and we have the earth for a floor. It
used to be thought highly imprudent for a healthy man
to sleep in a newly plastered room. I do not think I
should be afraid of it now but “a soldier in
the field, fighting for his country” has no business
to think of rooms except in a scornful way.
The weather here until Christmas was
delightful, the most of the time about as warm
as the middle of May. Fires were not necessary
for days. It was difficult to imagine we were in
December. For about a month more I presume we
shall have it wet and disagreeable. How long
we are to remain here, or where to go, I of course know
nothing. When the bugle sounds we must move. That
is enough for a soldier in the field etc
I have seen Lieut Will Syster twice. I believe
he is now within a mile or two of us. Dr. Sparling
I have met quite often. He was with us on a scout
to Lebanon for a couple of days some weeks ago and
succeeded in capturing the guerilla Morgan’s dinner a
capital one. He is talked of as our Medical Director.
Col Innes also I have met.
I should like to drop in and join you in your read-
ings, amateur theatricals, skatings etc, but a soldier +
+ + + + + +. Remember me to all my
friends, your Mother. Mr + Mrs Wm J. When this
war is over I hope to see them all, and fight my
battles o’er again. Has Mother been in Detroit yet?
I should like to hear from her soon. You write
me again soon, do. Letters are a Godsend. Direct
to me “Adjutant 4
th Mich Cavalry, In the field, Nash-
ville Tenn. Do not forget the photographs you are
to send. Love to the children. Good bye. with much
love. Yours affectionately
Robert Burns
Mr + Mrs J.W.Waterman
Detroit
Dear Charles-
These are the letters
I referred to, which I
sent out to your Mother
and the
[ ? ] of which, Davidson
informs me has relieved
her of the anniety caused
by the previous ones to him.
Your mother made us
quite a visit, + for ten
days of the time Col. D. was
here, and they engaged rem0
iniscinces of old times greatly.
Yours truly
J. W. Waterman
[On Envelope:]
J. Davidson Burns Esq
Kalamazoo
Michigan
