Osborn Ayer - Civil War Correspondence

Some of our Boys killed one of Mosbeys [Mosby's] best men yesterday One of his men came in and gave himself up with the offer to guide us to his head quarters if we would go with him all such offers are received with much distrust for fear of being trapped however we have been out with him onse [once] and captured ten Johneys [Johnny's] and about thirty horses. My health is quite good and I hope this will find you all enjoying life and its blessings

You must write often I will write as often as I can but I have to catch my time as it flies between the thousand calls for duty which meet a soldier everywhere give me all the news you can I Remain as ever

Your Sincere Friend and Brother

O Ayer

Cavalry Camp Falls Church VA June 9^th

Friends at home Thinking I should find no better or more favorable opportunity of writing to you I conclude to inform the present, but I have no letters I believe to ans [answer] elsewhere except Sister G from whoom [whom] I received a letter last evening I am not certain whether I answered Sister A's letter but think I did however as I am uncertain I will write I am in camp this forenoon with little to do and that is unusual for me I was on guard yesterday and thereby missed a six days scout when most of our Reg [Regiment] have gone they will not be back in less than a week I do not know exactly where they have gone but I think to Fredricsburgh [Fredericksburg] to bring away a large number of wounded of our men who are there I was informed that twoo [two] hundred ambulances from Washington would accompany them The brigade I suppose sends about one thousand men I verry [very] much regret being left behind They go by way of Ashby gap [Gap] and will perhaps have a brush at that place with gurrillies [guerrillas], it was there we first were under fire nearly one year ago and lost three men killed and sevral [several] wounded and twoo [two] prisoners we – killed seven and captured about the same number but do not know how many we wounded but we drove them through the gap at a double quick

The weather is verry [very] warm and sultry here today and even still as I am in the shade of my shelter tent I am sweating rather freely I do not know whether I have yet apprised you of our removal from our winter quarters or not, but so it is and we are now five miles nearer Washington than before and on the same R. Road We have a verry [very] pleasant camp and I think a healthy one how long we are to enjoy it remains to be seen I cannot think long but may be deceived however we have all the conveniences supposed to belong to a soldier and have made quarters verry [very] comfortable I wish you could look into my little establishment and see how easily I am situated My chum Sgt J L Finley and myself occupy one shelter tent which I have converted into a comfortable house with only one room which answers for sitting and dining and reading room Armory library and bed room and ample room for all At the head of our beds stands a little rack containing two spacers seprating [separting] riffles [rifles] twoo [two] colts pistols two sabers with belts ammunition &c [etc.] sufficient to make quite a battle if necessary On either side of the rack is our beds and between the twoo [two] I have made a cupboard for everything with a writing desk and table attached I tell my chum that we are too comfortable to remain long I hope the war will close and we may enjoy our freedoms by the fourth of July but do not believe it although I believe this summer will use up the

power of the rebellious states They begin to comprehend this determination and ability of the north to mantain intact the government bequeather to them by Washington and our forefathers We took some old citizens of strong secession proclivites prisoners to to hold as hostages for some union ones captured by them from this part of VA Virginia and they confessed the bitter truth (as it seemed to them) that the South was already beaten but said they (and their neither lip turned white and trembled as they said it) "we can never live together again" but this falacious [fallacious] theory will fade away soon, and they will respect the power which is able to do them justice even in flogging them I have scarcely been beyond the camp lines since coming here except on one scout and we have been here about twoo [two] weeks I do not know exactly where the 16^th N.B. is but somewhere between here and Fairfax I suppose I have not seen Charles Farmsworth but once since he returned from home Sister G wrote concerning a picture she sent me C — — lost it, so he told me when he came back I will write to G in a few days she seems verry [very] happy and I am glad of it My health is verry [very] good and I have more prospects than many a soldier now has of long life There has been a vast amount of mortality down this way of late but the 2^nd Mass I fear is destined to see but little of the greatest struggle of the war, but a day may change our seeming quiet to the fierce strife of battle who knows

We must certainly never come with the anticipation of passing through this war without seeing one great battle if we do we shall be disappointed and by no fault of ours, for were the vote taken today all the old members of our reg [regiment] would vote to go to the immediate front but we are not today as well prepared for this place as we were eight months ago Now we are filled up with Seven and eight hundred dollar men who would many of them not be worth so many cents, in any place where men were wanted I think the government has been teribly [terribly] cheated in many respects in the men she has purchased They count one on the State quota and no where else in creation could many of them constitute the numeral one (I will except at rations) for they are always there, and on the sick report) Well I must close Water my horse get my dinner and get ready for duty This afternoon for I am sure to have to to go. I notice all your letters come directed to the care of Capt Adams He is no longer captain of our Co [company] but a Major in the 5 Mass [Massachusetts] (Colord) [Colored] Capt Stone is now Capt of our Co [company] and the best we had by far Our former Capt was execrated by all of his Co [company] before he left on act of his infamous conduct towards his men It is unnecessary to direct to the care of any one but if any one Capt Stone would be the one I remain as ever Sincerely

Yours

O Ayer