6th Michigan Cavalry | Spared & Shared 23

*I could not find an image of Samuel but here is a cdv of James S. Bendle of the 6th Michigan Cavalry (LOC)*

The following letter was written by Samuel Sherburne (1841-1864) who enlisted as a private in Co. D, 6th Michigan Cavalry on 22 October 1862 at Byron, Michigan. He was taken prisoner and sent Richmond where he died of chronic bronchitis at General Hospital on 12 April 1864. The regiment was assigned to what became the Michigan Brigade during the early part of the Gettysburg Campaign in June 1863. It saw its first actions under General Custer at Hanover, Hunterstown, and Gettysburg. Armed with Spencer Repeating Rifles, the 6th provided superior firepower against the lightly armed Confederate cavalry.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Washington D. C.
December 14, 1862

Dear Brother,

I thought tonight I would write a few lines & let you know where I be and that I am well and I hope these few lines will find you the same.

We started from Gand Rapids Camp Kellogg at 5 o’clock a.m., marched over to the jail and got some prisoners, and then we marched down to the depot and got aboard of the cars. Left Grand Rapids at 10 o’clock a.m., arrived at Detroit Junction about 7 o’clock p.m., then we went onto the Detroit & Toledo Railroad. Arrived at Toledo about 12 o’clock p.m.. took some refreshments there and changed cars, left Toledo about two o’clock a.m. for Cleveland. We arrived Thursday at Cleveland about 12 o’clock. Stopped there about two hours, then started for Pittsburgh about ten o’clock Thursday evening. We went and got refreshments, then we changed cars and started for Baltimore about two o’clock Friday morning. We passed through some dreadful rocky country, you better believe, going through Pennsylvania.

We arrived at Baltimore about one o’clock Saturday afternoon. We marched about a mile through the city, then we went into a warehouse and stayed till about ten o’clock in the evening waiting for cars to come. We arrived at Washington Sunday morning. We are now in old barracks waiting for our tents to come. There is lots of soldiers here, you better believe, in Washington. The 5th [Michigan Cavalry] is camped here near Washington. We are a going to camp right by them.

I have seen the [U. S.] Capitol. You better believe it is a nice building. They are a fighting at Fredericksburg now, only about 7 miles [more like 50 miles] from here, and they have not got through yet. Col. [Francis William] Kellogg says we shall have our pay as quick as we get camp. There is not hardly a man in our company got any money but I have got money yet and have had all the while. Tell mother she must not maker herself any trouble about me for I may live all through the war and arrive home once more. I shall stand my chance amongst the rest to not get killed. You must be good to mother and help her all you can.

The cars run over a soldier yesterday here. They run over his legs and arm, He was drunk adn there was one died on the cars. I cannot think of any more at present, Give my love to all the girls. So goodbye. — Samuel Sherburne

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]