Near Murfreesboro May 24 My dear Davidson I can write but a line as I have a chance of sending this by Fellers our Sutler and he start in a few minutes. I wish you would get me that field glass at Pickering’s if not too late, and you can get it reasonable.
Burns, Robert – May 20, 1863
1st Brigade 2d Cavalry Div Murfreesboro May 20/63 My dear Davidson Yours of the 6th enclosing Willy’s I have. I was both surprised and pleased to hear that he was in Kalamazoo. I wish he could have come while I was there.
Bunce, Lathan – May 1, 1863
CERTIFICATE To be given to Volunteers at the time of their Discharge to enable them to Receive their Pay, &c. I certify, on honor, that Lathan Bunce a private of Captain Lt. Thos. J. Parker’s Company (“A”) of the 4th Regiment of Cavalry Volunteers, of the State of Michigan, born in Sheffield, State of Massachusetts, aged 39 years; 5 feet 8 ½ inches high: light complexion, brown eyes, red hair, and by occupation a Farmer, having joined the company on its original organization at Detroit Mich. and enrolled in it at the muster into service of the United States at Detroit Mich. on the 28 day of August, 1862
Burns, Robert – April 28, 1863
Our Camp, Murfreesboro April 28, 1863 My dear Davidson I to-day send you $430 which you will receive by express from Detroit. With it I send directions how to use it. Call at the express office if you have not already received it.
Burns, Robert – April 28, 1863
H’d Quarters 1st Cav’y Brigade Murfreesboro April 28, 1863 My dear Davidson I wrote you a few lines the day after my arrival here, which I suppose you have received. By Capt Grant I have an opportunity to send an express package and I here with enclose ($430) four hundred and thirty dollars.
Burns, Robert – April 24, 1863
in Camp Murfreesboro Apr 24, 1863 My dear Davidson As you said a line would be sufficient. I will send it to you. I arrived safely this afternoon escaping perils by flood + field.
Burns, Robert – April 5, 1863
Kalamazoo April 5, 1863 My dear Brother I have heard nothing from you since my last written before leaving Nashville. Since then I have seen a little of war as you have probably learned from my letters to Davidson.
Burns, Robert – February 22, 1863
Camp Stanley near Murfreesboro H’d Qu’rs, 1st Cavalry Brigade February 22d, 1863 My dear Davidson Yours of the 15th inst, No 12, I have just received. Of course I was pleased to hear from you. I had also a week or ten days ago received yours of the 1st and the package slippers and socks. Thank you. The slippers I now have my feet encased in and am exulting in the consciousness of having on a new pair of hose.
Burns, Robert – February 7, 1863
Head Quarters. 1st Cavalry Brigade Department of the Cumberland Near Murfreesboro Tenn Feb’y 7./63 My dear Davidson I have sat down here with a pen full of ink which I think I shall spread out and send to you though what I have to say, and what to write about is more than I can think. Since writing you on the 3d I have remained quietly in my tent, not yet being able to do much riding.
Burns, Robert – February 2, 1863
Head Quarters 1st Cavalry Brigade Army of the Cumberland Near Murfreesboro Feb’y 2, 1863 My dear Brother I have not heard a word from any one written since the battle. Why have you not written? I wrote you on the 28th Dec 4th ult and 16th ult. Have you not received the letters?
Burns, Robert – January 19, 1863
Camp 3 miles beyond Murfreesboro Tenn Monday Evening January 19, 1863 My Dear Cousins Your very kind and welcome letters of Dec 28th I received the day before yesterday. I also received one from you about two months ago which I have been intending answering for a long time. I had at that time just written you and our letters passed each other on the way.
Burns, Robert – January 11, 1863
Camp about 3 miles the other side of Murfreesboro Tenn. Jan’y 11, 1863 My dear Davidson I shall try to write you a letter, but how I shall succed I can not tell, as I am far from well, and would go to bed had I a decent one to lie down on. I wrote you short notes on the 28th and 4th letting you know that all was well with me as I know you would be anxious.
Burns, Robert – December 28, 1862
Please save for me extracts of papers referring to our army movements. See telegram to N.Y. Tribune about Dec 15. referring to our dash into Franklin under Gen Stanley we are not In camp in the woods about 9 [ ? ] but were the first miles from Murfreesboro and 20 into town. from Nashville. Sunday evening 9 o’clock Dec 28, 1862 My dear Brother You see we we on our winding way. On the morning of the 26th the Army of the Cumberland started for the south on three different road with a front of about 12 miles. The roads are the Murfreesboro on the left. Nolansburg centre, and Franklin on the right.
Burns, Robert – December 18, 1862
No 5 Camp Rosecraus near Nashville Tenn Dec 18, 1862 My dear Davidson Your numbered 7th + 8th received. Since I wrote you last we have had no great changes here We have been out on one or two scouts. one to Franklin where we had quite a skirmish. You will probably see something of it in the papers.
Burns, Robert – November 23, 1862; December 3, 1862
No 4 In Camp about 6 miles SE of Nashville Tenn Nov 23, 1862 My dear Brother Yours No 3 dated the 11th inst I received Thursday last. Since I wrote you last you see I have made a forward moves. I have not yet recovered from my diarrhea, and do not know when I shall. It seems to have settled on our army like a curse and cannot be eradicated.
Burns, Robert – November 7, 1862
No 3 In our own private hospital In a farm house about 4 miles from Munfordville on the Bowling Green Road Nov 7, 62 My dear Davidson Yours of 31st received. You see by this that I have caved and gone into medical quarters for a few days. I was obliged to come to it.
Burns, Robert – November 1, 1862
Head Quarters 33 Brigade Woodsonville Nov 1st 1862 List of names of prisoners of war delivered to me this day by 1st Lieut Robert Burns 4th Mich. Cav.
Burns, Robert – October 27, 1862
Camp near Munfordville Ky Oct 27, 1862 My dear Davidson I wrote you on the 15th just from near Crab Orchard where Danville which I suppose you have received. Since there we have been continually on the go. The 18th and yesterday were the only days we have out been in the saddles.
Burns, Robert – October 17, 1862
Camp in Lincoln County 5 miles from Stanford Ky Oct 17, 1862 My dear Mother Hearing that the teams are to return to Louisville to-morrow I must seize the only means of carrying a letter & send this.
Burns, Robert – October 16, 1862
In camp at Danville Ky Oct 16, 1862 My dear Davidson We six companies left Jeffersonville on the 10th at 11 A.M. Dixie without tents or baggage of any kind. I have nothing with me except what is in my valise. I left my carpet bag and have since heard it has been broken open and plundered.
Burns, Robert – October 8, 1862
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 26th ult and reacheed here the 28th.
Burns, Robert – October 7, 1862
Jeffersonville Camp Oct 7, 1862 My dear Davidson You see we are still here in spite of all signs to the contrary. We have had two or three marching alarms since I wrote but we still hold our ground.
Burns, Robert – September 30, 1862
Tuesday night Sept 30. 62 My dear Davidson It is now midnight and we have been busy packing for a march to-morrow. We arrived at Jeffersonville opposite Louisville Sunday morning.
Burns, Robert – September 23, 1862
Detroit Sept 23, 62 My dear Mother On Friday next we are to move to the seat of war bag and baggage. Louiswille, Kentucky is to be our destination. We shall probably be about thirty six hours on the way and I will write you immediately on my arrival there.