1863: Samuel Sherburne to his Brother

A Union trooper most likely from the 5th or 6th Michigan Cavalry holding his saber and 7-shot Spencer Rifle,

The following unsigned or partial letter was written by Samuel Sherburne of Co. D, 6th Michigan Cavalry. The troopers referenced in the letter include 18-year-old George Hopkins, 21-year-old John T. Van Dyke, 34-year-old William H. Rust, and 29-year-old George W. Botsford. All four soldiers hailed from Burns, Shiawassee County, Michigan. He addressed the letter to his brother.

The 6th Michigan Cavalry mustered into service in October 1862 and saw duty in the defenses of Washington until June 1863. Their first action came in the Gettysburg campaign. While in Washington during the winter of 62-63, they served as body guard and escort to General Casey, as stated in the letter.

*Charge of the 6th Michigan cavalry over the rebel earthworks near Falling Waters*

Transcription

Washington
January 4, 1863

Dear Brother,

I take the opportunity of addressing you with a few lines to let you know that I am well and I hope these few lines will find you the same. It is very nice weather here now at the present time. I am in hopes we will be home by spring and this war will be done with. That would suit me well as anything I can think of. I am getting sick of this war. It’s not a very nice thing.

January 5th. Dear brother, I just received your letter tonight and was very glad to hear from you and that you was well. We have just come in from drilling a horse back. We drill in the forenoon from ten to eleven dismounted with sabers, then in the afternoon mounted with sabers. We have only three guards a night and my turn don’t come very often so that is not much. I have allotted 8 dollars of a month pay to mother for I knew it would be safe then. We have not got any pay yet and there is no signs of it.

I went up to the 5th Regiment [on] New Years and I seen Ed James. He was well. I did not see Dan. He was down in the City. We have singing every night and we make it go first rate.

January 6. Having a little spare time, I thought I would improve it in writing a few more lines. Our boys are all in very good health. George Hopkins went and seen Reuben yesterday over across the river to the paroled prisoners barracks camp about 4 miles from here. He has been taken prisoner.

January 7, Wednesday. It is quite cold here today. We drilled a little this forenoon with our saber and it was cold work. This afternoon we did not drill and I thought I would write a little more. Reuben Hopkins ¹ is here this afternoon to see us. He looks pretty rough. He is not very tough. He got hurt with a stick of timber.

I have got that watch yet and I mean to keep it till I get home. It keeps good time yet. Tell Judson I wish he would change and give me United States money for that is the best to keep.

You better believe I have seen some of the greatest sights ever saw before. The Capitol is a great sight to see. We have got the position of body guard over General Casey and we have good times. They is lots of niggers where we are camped now. You cannot look in the street without seeing a nigger or two. John [T.] Van Dyke is well at present. They is three of our boys gone to Fairfax but what for I don’t know but I s’pose for guards over some general or else to carry dispatches from one camp to another.

We have good bread to eat and very good beef but it is not like home. Our boys are all in very good health except bad colds. William [H.] Rust is to the hospital sick. He has quit bugling and is a private. George Botsford has got to be Corporal & Abner Letts was here this afternoon to see me. He is not with the regiment now. He has been sick… [unsigned or partial letter]