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Regiment: 4th Michigan Calvary
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Austin Blair, Braxton Bragg, William S. Rosecrans
Camp at Dechard at foot of
Cumberland Mts. Tenn. July 4, 1863
My dear Davidson
Here we are I believe to rest one day,
having arrived last evening. I can hardly call it a
camp having no tents or baggags with us. Bragg has
escaped over the mountains and whether we are to
pursue him or not I cannot say, not being entirely
in Genl. Rosecran’s confidence, I suppose the rebel army
is now in Chattanooga that part of it which has not
been captured and scattered by us. The wood about
us one full of rebel stragglers and deserters who are
being constantly gobbled up my our men. This is
the 11
th day we have been out having left Murfreesboro
on the 24
th. I wrote you on the 23
rd 25
th & 28
th We
have been constantly on the move staffing but a few hours
at a time in any place and almost every day having a
skirmish with the enemy. It has been raining every day
sometimes in perfect torrents. Having no change of clothes
with us you can easily imagine how excessively dirty
we are. When it don’t rain it is insufferably but and the
men and horses steam like so many soup dishes. I am
lying flat on the ground on my rubber blanket barefooted and
smelting Allen is washing my only pair of socks. When he
washes my shirt I must go nearly naked. “Who wouldn’t
be a soldier?” I never was better in my life
sound in wind and limb, and take all my rations
regularly. The men stand the work very well few
falling sick but it is terribly hard on our horses. I
wrote you that I had one shot at Shelbyville,
we had a visit from Govt Blair and military family on the
1
st He had to take his sleep on the ground with the rest of us.
I am getting to be quite an early riser. reveille being sounded
nearly every morning at 3 o’clock. Some nights we have
had very little sleep. I do not know what the rest
of the Army has been doing, but I believe been moving
steadily forward driving the enemy. We have been shift-
ed from right to left and back again as we were wanted.
It is supposed that Gen Rosecrans will pursue Bragg as
far as he will run. We are now 14 miles
South West of Tullahoma. The boy for the mail is
just coming and stop I must. How are you cele-
brating the day! Give my love to Mother. Good
bye. Your affectionate brother
RB
[On Envelope:]
July 16, 1863
July 4
J. Davidson Burns Esq
Miller & Burns
Kalamazoo
Michigan
