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https://micivilwar.com/authors/burns-robert/
Regiment: 4th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Braxton Bragg, Don C. Buell
Camp near Jeffersonville Ind
Opposite Louisville KY
Oct 8, 1862
My dear Mother
Since I have been here
I have been too busy to get time
to write anyone. I dropped a
few lines to Davidson a day or
two after our arrival. We left
Detroit the 26
th ult and reache-
ed here the 28
th. For two days
after our arrival we made our
houses in the cars, living ar
best we could. Since then we
have been encamped about two
miles from Jeffersonville on the
banks of the Ohio. Three
times we have been ordered to
march into Kentucky at a few
hours notice and after packing
up and getting ready to start the
orders have been countermanded.
Last night we were ordered to march
at 6 o’clock this morning and we
sat up half the night distributing
ammunition +c, when we were
told that we could not go until
to-morrow. Without doubt we
shall go then to join Gen Buell’s
and Bragg’s armies are there en-
camped within fighting distance
of each other. We did expect
to stay here for several weeks to
drill, but the Inspector General
was here a day or two ago, and was
so much pleased with our appear-
ance that he determined to put us
at once into the field. We shall
probably remain with Buell’s army
during this campaign though I know
nothing about it. I am beginning
to get somewhat accustomed to camp
life, tho’ it is somewhat too dirty
to be pleasant. I have not slept
in a house since I first entered
camp, except a few nights in Paw
Paw. I have been perfectly healthy
and appear likely to continue so. I
have but little time to be homesick.
Am up before 5 o’clock and from that
time until 9 P.M. am hard at work
drilling overseeing horse watering feed-
ing +c. I brought a trunk with
me, but in a day or two after arriv-
ing I sent it back to Paw Paw. Have
now nothing but the barest ne-
cessities such as I have on, another
flannel shirt, two pairs of socks, a
battle of whiskey a great coat +c
all of which I carry on my horse
in a valise. I have two horses,
and we are so loaded down with
sabres, pistols, hamesacks canteens
carbines +c that we are perfect rid
ing arsenals and pantier. I
have heard from no one since
I arrived here. I did not know
where to have a letter directed. If
a letter should be sent to one.
“Company C. 4
th Michigan Cavalry
Louisville Ky” it would proba-
bly be forwarded to me wherever
I should be. Has any thing been
heard from Willy lately? I may
meet him somewhere in Dixie.
I wish some of you would
write. Jot and Eliza were
very kind to me while in Detroit
as were other friends. Our compa-
ny made me a present of a hand-
some sabre while there. Give
my love to all my friends and
relatives in the city. I hope
some time to see them when I am
covered with glory and shoulder straps
Your affect son Robert
