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Regiment: 4th Michigan Calvary
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Head-Quarters 1st Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division,
Department of the Cumberland,
Near Kennesaw Mountain, Ga
June 25th 1864
My dear Mother
Since mine of June 4th to you
we have been marching hither and thither in this
country doing our share of hard work and fight-
ing. On the 9
th 11
th 15
th 19
th 20
th and 23d we
(our brigade) were fighting. Battles and skirmishing
are going on every day and night somewhere along
our lines. This morning between 8 and 11 a heavy
engagement must have taken place about 5 miles
to our right if we might judge by the cannonading
a part of it could be seen in the top of Kenne-
saw Mt. We are about 7 miles from Marietta
and near the foot of the Mountain. Its top is
crowned with rebel batteries which we can see
from this point. Our batteries are on every mound
around Kennesaw and they are continually shelling
the enemy. Since I
commenced began this they have
commenced again and we can plainly see the
shells bursting near the top. So they have
been keeping it up day after day for the last ten.
The right of our army is said to here pushed to the
other side of the mountain and to have obtained poss-
ession of the rail road below Marietta. If that be
the case the enemy must fall back or fight. A
great many men have been killed and wounded near
here but there has been no general engagement yet.
On Monday the 20th we had quite a severe fight.
Our regiment lost 11 killed, 23 wounded and 6 missing.
It has lost since the 15
th of May 6 officers and
75 men killed, wounded and missing. The 7
th
Penna another regiment in our Brigade has also suf-
fered some. You will find in the New
York Tribune an account of our fight of the 20
th
A few days ago I met here a Mr. Hays a cor-
respondent of that paper who had just come from
Louisiana. He said he was very well acquainted
with Willy had been in the same mess with
him for the past two months. He speaks very
highly of him, and says he is one of the bravest
men he has met, and a brother one need not
be ashamed to own. He also says he is very
well. Of course I was not displeased to hear
it all.
I presume you are all settled now in
Greene, enjoying the summer as well as you
can. This summer, I presume can not be en-
joyed much by our people. It is without
doubt the most terrible summer ever passed
by the American People. What would
I not give to be able to drop in on you
for a cup of tea and bowl of raspberries.
I think I celebrated the anniversary of my
birth eight years ago to-day with you and
Selah’s family in Greene. The salutes were
not quite as numerous as to-day. Since morn-
ing I have heard at least 800 guns (cannons)
fired. They have quieted now a little.
Give my love to Mary, Selah and the child-
ren. Does Jennie yet consider herself in that
category? If not, tell the young lady to make
preparations to receive her bachelor Uncle some
time next fall or winter, as I am determined
if possible to see you all then. I write
as often as I can to you and Davidson. Of
course I mean to include the family in there
letters to you. Good bye. Good bless you
Do have some body write to me. I have heard
nothing since yours & Mary’s from Brooklyn.
Davidson has not written me since the 15
th
of May. I want to hear something about his
wedding. Good bye again
Your loving son
Robert
Mrs M. Burns
Greene
N.Y.
[On Envelope:]
June 28, 1864
May 26
J. Davidson Burns Esq
Kalamazoo
Michigan
