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Regiment: 4th Michigan Calvary
Battles Mentioned: Chickamauga, Georgia
Historical Figures:
Head-Quarters 1st Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division,
Department of the Cumberland
Lafayette Walker Co.
Georgia, May 10 1864.
My dear Mother
You see by the date of this
that we are again in the field and fairly
entered on the summer’s campaign. You
know that we had been in Columbia Tenn
for a week or two. On the 30
th ult we left
there thoroughly prepared for a six months stroll.
Yesterday we arrived here where we may re-
main six days or six hours. it is hard to
tell which. It is reported that a battle
is being fought to-day in front of us. We
are to move I believe to Calhoun Ga. and take
our position on the right of our army. Of course
we know very little what we are to do leaving
only to obey orders and march where directed.
In a few days at farthest there will a great
battle undoubtedly take place in this vicinity
as I said before it is rumored that skirmish-
ing has already commenced. We have no
doubt of our gaining a victory as we have an
immense and well equipped army. I hope that
we will come out of it safely and successfully.
I for one, want to get back to a civilized life
again. We now have nothing with us except
what we carry on our horses having left behind
all our wagons several days ago. For the last
week we have been engaged in climbing up and
down the Cumberland Mountains having passed
over several ranges of them. We are now about
sixteen miles South of the Chickamauga battle
field, where we passed a lively few days last sep-
tember. We are again in the saddle all day and
sleeping on the ground during the night. The life
appears to agree with me as I am perfectly
healthy though I can’t say that my beauty
is in any way improved. If I stay here a
year longer I shall be as gray as I would other-
wise have been twelve years from now.
I have not heard from you nor any one
in New York in a long time. Davidson has been
behind hand in his correspondence lately. I have
kept him well posted as to my whereabouts and
have asked him to write you all. Have you
heard anything from Willy since the Red River battles?
I presume nothing has happened to him or I
should have heard of it. His three years will soon
be over. Do you know whether he intend entering the
service again or not. I presume Davidson
will be getting married next month. I can not be
there to see. Will anybody go from New York?
Why do not some of you write me oftener?
Weeks and sometimes months pass without my
hearing a word from “home” except through Da-
vidson. Do write oftener. Give my love to
Charles’ & Mary’s families. I do want to see
you all. Good bye
Your Affec son
Robert
Mrs Mary Burns
304 Cumberland St
Brooklyn NY
My 10 64
