Head-Quarters 1 Brig., 2d Cavalry Division, Huntsville Ala January 17 1864 My dear Davidson “Here we are again” as the Merry man says rushing into the ring, and transforming himself into a wheel or revolver of some kind. We arrived here on Thursday headed by a brass hand and a Brigadier General
Burns, Robert – January 4, 1864
Head-Quarters 1st Brig., 2d Cavalry Dicision, Near Pulaski, Tenn January 4 1864 My dear Davidson A very much disgusted be-muddied and dumpish individual sits down now to address you a few words. Mud surrounds us on every side, we are intent on mud even (Do you see the pun?)
Burns, Robert – December 26, 1863
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 26th December 1863 Major Sinclair A. A. Genl. Sir: I have the honor to call the attention of the Major General Commanding to the following officers whom I consider entitled to special mention for their gallant conduct during the Battle of Chicamauga.
Burns, Robert – December 26, 1863
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 26th December 1863 Major Sinclair A.A. Genl Sir: I [ ? ] to hand you the following report of the operations of the 1st Brigade 2nd Cavalry Division from the 13th to the 24th Sept. and including the Battle of Chicamauga.
Burns, Robert – December 11, 1863
Head-Quarters 1st Brig., 2d Cavalry Division, Huntsville Ala December 11 1863. My dear Davidson Some time last month I sent you $260 by Sergt Kendall. I have not yet heard whether it (or they) arrived safely. I have been looking for a letter from you for sometime, but the mails “fail to connect.”
Burns, Robert – November 23, 1863
Head Qrs 1st Brigade 2d Cav’y Div Maysville Ala Nov 23, 1863 My dear Davidson I wrote you on the 20th inst by Charly Kendall enclosing a draft for $260. This I write that you may know it is coming. If you receive that first, consider this cancelled. Be sure not to take it from the Post Office.
Burns, Robert – November 19, 1863
Head Quarters 1st Brigade 2d Cav’y Div Maysville Ala Nov 19, 1863 My dear Davidson Yours of Nov 7th I received yesterday. Otis sent it to me from Nashville. Yours of the 11th and 25th Oct I also received in due time. Since I wrote you on 27th ult we have been lying here doing nothing. i.e. the Brigade as a command has been lying still but the Regiments are scouting around the country in all directions.
Burns, Robert – October 20, 1863
Head Quarters 1st Brigade 2d Cav’y Div Maysville Ala 10 miles N.E. of Huntsville Flint River Bridge Oct 20, 1863 My dear Davidson Down in this Dixie I shall attempt to write you a few lives. After wandering to and fro up and down the country, we have settled here for a few days. On 26th Sept and 7th Oct I wrote you a line each day to let you know that all was well with me. Since then I have been perfectly well physically but mentally and morally in a bad way. As things have been managed lately in this command we have been in a terribly swearing mood. But no matter.
Burns, Robert – October 7, 1863
Near Guy’s Gap 6 miles from Shelbyville Tenn Oct 7 1863 My dear Davidson I have but a moment to write. We are after the “raiders” who crossed the Tennessee River on the 30th ult. Have had three fights with them and expect to run into them again to-day.
Burns, Robert – September 26, 1863
Head Quarters 1st Brig 2d Cav’y Div North side of Tennessee River 15 miles from Cattanooga, Hamilton Co September 26, 1863 My dear Brother I have but a moment to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am yet unharmed and perfectly well. We commenced the fight on Friday the 18th and our Brigade was engaged all that day skirmishing with the enemy.
Burns, Robert – September 17, 1863
Head Quarters 1st Brigade 2d Cav’y Div Reeds Bridge, Caktoosa County Georgia Sept 17, 1863 My dear Brother Here I halt for a few moments to drop you a line. We are still pushing on as you see. I wrote you on the morning of the 13th + sent the letter to Detroit by Ed Owen who has been compelled to resign. We left Chattanooga that afternoon and crossed the line into Georgia.
Burns, Robert – September 13, 1863
Chattanooga Daybreak Sept 13, 1863 Sunday, My dear Davidson Yesterday afternoon our Brigade entered this newspaper famous town. It was deserted by the rebels a few days ago. Genl Bragg is retreating we suppose to Atlanta and our army is in close pursiut.
Burns, Robert – September 8, 1863
H’d Qurs 1st Brigade 2d Cav’y Div McDonald’s Rhea Co. Tenn Sept 8, 1863 My dear Davidson We shall this afternoon cross the Tennessee River and move to Chattanooga The rebels have all left the river opposite us and they are reported to be retreating towards Atlanta Geo. I believe our forces occupy Chattanooga. They have been before it for several days. Deserters are coming in by scores, 14 yesterday and 30 to-day.
Burns, Robert – August 25, 1863
Hd Qurs 1st Brigade 2d Cav’y Div Smith’s Coss Roads Tenn. 6 miles from Tennessee River. 38 miles from Chattanooga in the Tennessee Valley August 25, 1863 My dear Davidson I wrote you on the 14th a long letter telling of my Shelbyville experience sending also Col Mintys report and five rebel papers. again on the 16th I wrote on the eve of our departure from McMinnville. We have crossed two spurs of the Cumberland Mountains and alighted in this place we are now engaged watching the movements of the rebels a cross the river about 6 miles from here seeing that they do not run a cross and repeat the Bragg + Buell campaign of last year up in Kentucky. This is the place where Bragg passed through with his army. I do not think Rosecrans will be caught napping. It is rumored that there has been and is now heavy fighting at Chattanooga. Our army (Gen Rosecrans’) now has a front of about 200 miles and it requires a great deal of vigilance to watch it. We are now all I suppose on the Tennessee River with some of us a cross. Our main body is in front of and
around Chattanooga.
Burns, Robert – August 16, 1863
Head Quarter 1st Brigade 2d Cav Div McMinnville Aug 16, 1863 My dear Davidson I wrote you a long letter on the 14th + sent you Col Minty’s report and five papers the same day. I now write to say that we are off again the Army of the Cumberland is again “marching on”
Burns, Robert – August 14, 1863
Camp at McMinnville Tenn Aug 14 1863 My dear Davidson Yours of 29th ult with postscript of the 30th I received several days ago. I have been looking for another from you in answer to one I sent by Porter enclosing $250. I suppose the money safely reached you. You will see by the heading above that we have again dropped back into Tennesee. We are now cooperating with Genl Van Cleve’s Division which is stationed here. I have met Otis his A.A.G. several times. We are now watching the left flank of our army and East Tennesee. We shall not probably stay here very long. We have been on a couple of scouts since our arrival and in one of them the 4th Mich had three men killed. Our Brigade now consists of 4th Regulars. 4th Michigan. 7th Penna and 3d InDiana. 1st Brigade 2d Cavalry Division. Genl Turchin was removed from the command about two weeks go, and Genl Croaks commands the Division. We however are detached from the Division for the present.
Burns, Robert – July 26, 1863
1st Brigade 2d Cavalry Div July 26, 1863. Salem Tenn My dear Brother By the enclosed $250 you will see that the Paymaster has been making us his welcome visit. Please credit it on my side of the ledges and let me known whether it reaches you safely. If you don’t get it, be Irish enough to write at once.
Williams, George W. – July 19, 1863
Head Quarters Q.M. Dept Winchester July 19th/63 Dear. Little. Sister. Julie To day is Sunday and having writing to mother and Nelie and knowing that you will feal hard in my not writeing to you. I now seat myself to few to few a few lines since I wrote to Mother and Nelie I have been to Murfressboro and returned and when I arrived at this place their was another detail which was sent out from Huntsville to meet us
Burns, Robert – July 16, 1863
Huntsville Alabama July 16, 1863 My dear Brother, We dropped in here yesterday for a few days after diners and sunday wanderings up and down the country. How long we shall remain the military powers that he can only tell. We have been in the saddle nearly all the time since I wrote you last (July 4th).
Burns, Robert – July 4, 1863
Camp at Dechard at foot of Cumberland Mts. Tenn. July 4, 1863 My dear Davidson Here we are I believe to rest one day, having arrived last evening. I can hardly call it a camp having no tents or baggags with us. Bragg has escaped over the mountains and whether we are to pursue him or not I cannot say, not being entirely in Genl. Rosecran’s confidence, I suppose the rebel army is now in Chattanooga that part of it which has not been captured and scattered by us.
Burns, Robert – June 26, 1863
Camp in woods 8 miles South of Murfrees June 26, 1863 My dear Davidson Here we are on the march Southward. We left camp on the morning of the 24th and have been in the rain since. Our army is slowly moving, but is almost stopped by the mud.
Burns, Robert – June 23, 1863
Near Murfreesboro June 23, 1863 9 P.M. My dear Davidson We are to move in the morning “sure” this time. Part of the army has already gone and probably before you receive this you will see our movements in the papers.
Burns, Robert – June 9, 1863
Head Quarters 1st Brigade 2d Cavalry Division Murfreesboro June 9, 1863 11 ½ P.M. My dear Davidson Your very surprising letter of the 31st 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.
Burns, Robert – May 29, 1863
In camp near Murfreesboro May 29, 1863 My dear Davidson I have but a moment to write by A. Ismen who is going home on sick leave. Our Army will probably move to-morrow, and before you receive this we may be in and through another battle. Our things are all packed and ready.