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Regiment: 4th Michigan Calvary
Battles Mentioned: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Historical Figures: Ulysses S. Grant
Head Quarters 1st Brigade
2d Cavalry Division
Murfreesboro June 9, 1863
11 ½ P.M.
My dear Davidson
Your very surprising letter
of the 31
st received. I must confess to
a little astonishment at its contents. How you
should have the assurance “to he and go and
do it” and get engaged to be married, before
your elder brother, has nearly taken away
my breath. What has become of your oft
expressed opinion of Western girls? How can
you so swallow your own words? What true
prophetesser your New York lady friends were
when you were leaving Gotham? How can you
face them again? Let me congratulate you
upon doing a thing which I should have done long
ago, but from which I seem to be farther now
than ever. I however will take great pleasure
in visiting you and Willy when you get to house-
keeping. I shall be a good bachelor uncle to
bring candy to the children. I begin to
feel somehow as if I was being left out in the
cold. However, if I live to return, Mother
and I can run an institution of our own.
Kindly remember me to Miss Madge, when you
next write and tell her I shall be as civil
and docile a brother in-law as she could
wish. You appear to have a very different
idea about publishing you engagement and Willy’s
Not write to Eastern friends forsooth. Indedd,
What said you about Willy’s being bruited a-
broad? You see it makes a decided difference
whose ox is good. However, to relieve your
mind, I do not think I shall tell any one
without your express permission.
You see we have not moved yet, not with-
standing my last advices to you. We have been
ready to go at any moment since and look
for starting orders every hour. Our clothes
have been rolled up, havresacks packed, rations
cooked and everything prepared for the last ten
days. We may go to-morrow or even to-night.
I do not think the advance can be much long-
er delayed, and really think we shall march
within the next forty eight hours, “Nous verrous”
I am now perfectly well and strong as ever. In-
deed, I weigh 159 lbs which is more than ever
before, excepting once. You see soldiering does not
disagree with me. I have been out twice
since I wrote you. On the 2
nd and 3d the
most of the army was out eight or ten
miles to the front feeling around. We were fired
at some, but saw no force. To-day the
rebel pickets told ours that Grant had
taken Vicksburg and 12000 prisoners. We
are feeling jolly over that just now. It may
be all false. Our movements here depend great-
ly on the success or failure of Grant’s projects
Should he be beaten we may find ourselves in
a tight box. I see that Col Clark of the 6
th
Michigan has been killed. To-day I
wrote to Dr. Lee. Porter is again trying for a
leave of absence; unless he gets it he will have
to resign. He cannot live here. He has had an
incessant, unchecked diarrhea for nearly six
months and it will eventually carry him off
unless stopped. Isman (A) has also gone
home very sick. I have not been reading
“Rosecrans’ Campaign with the 14
th Army Corps”
by W. D. B. Correspondent of the Cincinnati Commer-
cial. Get it an keep for me. Moore Wilstach
Keys & Co Cincini are the Publishers. In that
you can read of what we saw. Give my love
to Mother. Let me hear from you again very
soon. It is hard telling what may happen before
that time. We are looking every day for a battle.
Good night. God bless you all.
Your affectionate brother
Robert Burns
2 ½ o’clock A.M. June 10. Are saddling up for a scout
to be gone one day.
[On Envelope:]
June 17, 1863
Headquarters 1st Cavalry Brigade
Official Business
June 9 J. Davidson Burns Esq
Kalamazoo
Michigan
