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Regiment: 4th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned: Perryville, Kentucky
Historical Figures: Don C. Buell
In camp at Danville Ky
Oct 16, 1862
My dear Davidson
We six companies left Jeffersonville
on the 10
th at 11 A.M. Dixie without tents
or baggage of any kind. I have nothing
with me except what is in my va-
lise. I left my carpet bag and have
since heard it has been broken open
and plundered. All my good clothes
and fancy fixings gone. The first
day we rode ten miles passing through
Louisville. Compliments of all kinds were
showered upon us as the finest body of
men and horses yet brought into the state.
The first night we encamped on a side
hill with the ground for a bed. It soon
commenced raining and Lieut Griffin and I
I managed to get into a farm house and
into a bed. The Colonel did not know we
had slipped out of the camp, but we
thought we would stave off rheumia-
tism as long as possible. The
next morning we started at 6 and
rode 30 miles. Encamped about 3
miles SE of Bardstown. Had a very
comfortable sleep on the ground.
The next morning (Sunday) started at
3 o’clock. Marched all day and encamped
about a mile from the Perryville battle
field of last Wednesday.
On way lay through it and we could
distinctly see traces. Dead se-
cessionists were laying by the side
of the road. Our dead had been buried
Many wagon loads of our wounded pass-
ed us on their way to Louisville. Some
of them were ghastly looking objects. We did
not go through the main battle field, but on the
outskirts. It must have been a terrible battle
from all accounts. We see no newspapers so
know not what they say. The next morning
at 6 left and rode to Danville There found
a part of Buell’s army. Soldiers were every where.
At 1 o’clock the next morning Tuesday we were
called up and started out on the road to Lancaster
About 400 of the 1
st Ohio. 6 companies of us and
500 of the 7
th Pennsylvania some 1400 cavalry started
out on what I supposed was a reconnoisance
For two or three miles out we passed camps and
sleeping soldiers then we were alone nothing to
be heard but the tramp of horses and the jingling
of sabres. About 12 miles out at 6 o’clock we
heard that the rebels were 20 minutes ahead of
us. Soon we were halted and skirmishing com-
menced between the 1
st Ohio and the enemy. The
1
st O war ahead of us. The picket shooting
continued about an hour when we were o-
dered into the side field, the fences all being
torn down. Soon our infantry and artillery which
I had no idea was in miles of us came pour-
ing over the road and out of the woods. I
never was more surprised in my life as I supposed
we were alone. The infantry formed in long
lines and came sweeping over the fences and
hills. Soon a shot was heard and a shell
burst about a quarter of a mile from us in
the air. Another and the shell came whist-
ling over our heads and buried itself in a
side hill about 250 feet from us. It did
not explode and was lay out by the boys. The
thing was over so soon that none of us knew how
we felt. We were then ordered in behind a
hill out of harm’s way. Our artillery soon
opened. The fire of the enemy grew less
and then was silent. In the skirmish
eight privates and one lieutenant-colonel of
the enemy were killed. None of ours.
We were then marched to Stanford where en-
camped on the same spot the enemy’s battery had
been placed. After encamping our forces poured by
us and kept it up all night thousands on thou-
sands. At 9 o’clock Co’s A + C were ordered
back to Danville to pick up stragglers. We started back
and passed about 10 miles of soldiers going to the
front. We saw Loomis Battery Mich 13
th +
others. I am here and the mail is to go out
now. Good bye. Write. Direct to Co C 4 M
C, in the field. Louisville Ky
I have not time to write any body
else. Write for me. I have heard
from no one since I left Mich
I hope to meet Willy somewhere
You Affect
R.B.
We can hear the cound of cannon
about 15 miles from here. Fighting
is going on every day
Please save papers containing no-
tices of 4
th Mich
[On Envelope:]
J.D. Burns Esq
Kalamazoo
Mich
