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Regiment: 4th Michigan Calvary
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Albert S. Johnston, George Crook, James B. McPherson, John B. Turchin
Head Qrs 1st Brig. 2d Cav’y Div
Ten miles from Marietta Ga June 12, 1864
My dear Davidson
Again I have an opportunity
of dropping you a few lines. We lying still
to-day for some cause possibly because it is
Sunday, or may be because we can not get
any farther just at present. Since I
last wrote you, on the 30
th ult, we have a shift-
ed our position and are upon the extreme
left of our army and again within rifle
range of the rebels. Our cavalry pickets (the
4
th Regulars to-day) are now skirmishing with
the enemy. I can just hear the pop of the
muskets & carbines probably will not
amount to much, and we lie still and pay
no attention to the noise. A messenger may
come at any moment and say that our pickets
are being driven in, the rebels being too strong
and then we must mount and “to the front”
Yesterday we were fighting all day, i.e. from
10 ½ A.M. until 4 ½ P.M. I was out in the skir-
mish line myself the most of the time, shooting
and being shot at. We alternately drove and
were driven. By a mistake of our Division Com-
manders we were not supported as we should
have been, and effected nothing. The whole
Division (three Brigades) were to have gone into
the fight and we would have handsomely whipped
the rebs but only our Brigade and one regi-
ment of Col Long’s were engaged. The others had
received no orders. We are cursed with a
very poor Division Commander a man of neither
dash energy nor self reliance but a West Pointer.
In fact there are not many men who can com-
mand 6000 or 7000 cavalry successfully. It is a
great unwieldy body and requires peculiarly
constituted men to handle it effectively. It
is far easier and
[heavily crossed out] requires mush less
ability to manage 15000 infantry than 6000
cavalry. Niether Turchin nor Crook could suc-
ceed as Cavalry Commander but the have done re-
markably well with infantry. Crook is now
in Western Virginia and you know from the
papers what he has lately done.
On the 1st of June we moved to the entrance of Al-
toona Pass there expecting to find some of the enemy
but fortunately there were not any there. We lay
there guarding the pass and rail road until the 8
th
when we moved to Acworth and found ourselves
with McPherson’s Army and on the left flank. Mc-
Pherson himself had changed from right to left.
On the 9
th ours (the 1
st) and Wilder’s Brigade (the 3d)
went on a reconnoisance to Big Shanty 5 miles in
front of Acworth and again met the enemy. We
drove their cavalry about 1 ½ miles back on to
their infantry and main army at the foot of Kenne-
saw Mountain, and leaving accomplished all we
were sent for returned. We had found out the
position of the enemy. We had a very lively day
and a good deal of fun. The rebel cavalry is
very much afraid of our men charging them, so
they always now build fences across the roads
at unexpected places and make strong barricades
of rails which would effectually check us
if we should go at them at a gallop. They had
taken down the telegraph wires and wound
it about two feet high from tree to tree and
across the road. Wouldn’t we have had some
broken noses if we had tumbled over that. Their ex-
cessive caution defeated themselves as our men had to dis-
mount and advance on foot and Wilders men being
“mounted infantry” armed with Spencer Rifles can whip
at least twice their numbers of rebels especially when
they are in their element fighting on foot. We drove them
out of five of their barricades on the run. It was a fine
sight to see our men drive them across the open field.
At one time three regiments of Wilders were in sight with
the American Flags steadily advancing and the rebels on
the full run before them, a continual rattle of musketry
being the music to which they marched. If you won’t throw
up your hat for the old flag and shout yourself almost hoarse
when you see such a sight you ain’t much of a man.
It almost lifts a man off his feet. It is an altogether
different thing however to be driven. Then is the time for
terrible swearing. Yesterday when we were driven back for a little
while. I am afraid I was a little profane. Men would run and
had to be brought to the mark again. A person lives a good
while in a few such hours. On the 20
th the whole army
moved forward again and we pushed off about 10 miles East
of Acworth and yesterday we ran into the rebs as I
have said. We can hear occasional cannonading away to
our right and I suppose the two armies are feeling each
other again. Can’t tell whether Johnston is going to stand
here or not. I have given up prophesying. It has been
quite rainy for several days and we have our feet wet the most
of the time. We still are very healthy, but I am afraid I
am laying up a good stock of future rheumatism. Feel
no twinges yet, but this constant exposure must eventually
tell. The ground cannot be a healthy bed.
You I have no doubt are now a married man. “God bless
you and Madge” is all I have to say. On the 4
th I re-
ceived a letter from & wrote one to mother. She probably is in Greene
now. Do let me here from you soon. Love to Madge
Yours Affecly R.B.
Near Marietta May June 14, 64
All well. Cannonading in front.
May move at any moment. Wrote you
on 12
th. No move by as since
R. B.
[On Envelope:]
June 22, 1864
June 12
J. Davidson Burns Esq
Kalamazoo
Michigan
