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Regiment: 4th Michigan Calvary
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Head-Quarters Second Brigade, Second Division Cavalry, Corps,
Gravelly Springs Ala March 9 1865
My dear Mother
In Davidson’s of 12th
ult, received two days ago, he says you
wonder that you do not receive letters
more frequently from me. Knowing
that you were in Kalamazoo, I meant
that the letters written to him should
be yours also. I wrote him on the
22 & 26
th which letters I suppose he
has ere this received. In the letter
I said that we intended to leave this
place for a pleasure trip southward on
the 28
th. In that proposed little jaunt
we have been disappointed thus far. The
rains commenced falling on the 27
th, and
for several days the floods drenched us.
The Tennessee River commented to rise, and
now the steamboats land at the foot of
the hill on which our tents are pitched
more than half a mile outside of the
original bank of the River. We of course
care not more until the Tennessee falls and
there appear to be little prospect of that just
now as the rain is patting merrily on
our canvass roof. To-day is a cold and
bleak one and it was decidedly uncomfort-
able eating one dinner with half frozen
finger in the open air. A few days ago
we turned over our tents preparatory to the
expected march and are now nearly shel-
terless. We have a few flies remaining and
one shanties. It is not known where
we shall start, but as soon as the River
gets inside its ancient limits we shall look
for marching orders. I almost begin to
think we shall not be of much farther use in
finishing this rebellion. Other portions of
the Army appear to be doing the good work.
Whoever does it, the sooner it is done the better
say I. In our regiment we are beginning
to talk about going home having less than six
months to serve. We think we have
done our duty to the country and ought at
leart to be thanked. As it is, I suppose we shall
not even get thanks, but must strive hard to
get our places in civil life again. I must
confess I do not much like commencing at
the foot of the ladder again, but I suppose
there is no help for it. I need not
have been such a fool as to go into the
army. That is what a great many of our
acquaintances will say, and our friends think.
Let them do so.
I was very sorry to see in Davidson’s let-
ter a notice of Charly Montgomery’s death.
Do you recollect the last time I saw him?
That morning in Rochester that I did
not
go to Canandaigua to call on the beautiful
Miss Jeffry.
Has Willy succeeded in becoming settled
yet? or will he again enter the army. He
will be very foolish if he does so. The
sooner he becomes permanently fixed the
better. You see I am, as goo as ever
in giving advice, but a miserable hand
at following either my own or that of any other.
Have you heard anything lately from Greene and
is Selah getting getting well again? I may see
Mary and Charles before I do you in Kala-
mazoo, as we expect to return by way of
Mobile and New York. Let me
hear from you soon. Give my love
to Madge and Davidson.
Your affectionate son
Robert
Mrs A. Burns
Kalamazoo
[On Envelope:]
Head-Quarters 2
nd Brigade 2
nd Division Cavalry,
Department of the [ ? ]
Official Business
Mrs A. Burns
Care of J. Davidson Burns Esq
Kalamazoo
Michigan
March 9, 65
