Civil War Correspondence

I hope to live to see better days and less corruption and once more a happy and united country I thank you for the kind offer to secure for me some female correspondance [correspondence], although I doubt your eficacy [efficacy] to do as they would say let him write first and I would not have thought presumptous [presumptuous] to do so much as I should like an occasional letter from some one there to give variety to dvert [divert] myself when I get leasure [leisure] to do so but who is Clara Allen is it she who was Clorinda or not I must close for the bugle will soon sound the watering call and then I shal [shall] be employed intill [until] night I have a bad horse to manage The Capt [Captain] gave me a new one to break yesterday and took one I had well broken but close is the word Write soon and after and believe me ever truly and devotedly Yours

Osborn Ayer

Sweet as before

there we took a notorious gurrillie [guerilla] captain by the name of Lee and related closely to the jeneral [general] of rebel notoriety He has twice before been captured and twice taken the oath of illegeance [allegiance] to the United States and as often violated it by going immediately back to his command, orders were given to shoot him on on sight, this we did not at the time know or he would not now be an inmate of capitol prison I think he will be hung however his wife made a terible [terrible] howl which our colume [column] could hear nearley [nearly] a mile off She termed us Cal negro stealing sons of B- and much other polite southern epethets [epithets] known only to southern chivalrey [chivalry] order I cannot write much more at present as I understand we leave here today for Alexandria, Virginia and from there we shal [shall] be employed as scouts as here before My health is very good jeneraly [generally] but I am tired quite out write soon at some other time I will write more particulars

I remain as ever

Osborn Ayer

hindermost [hinder most] one after running a mule They fired in all about twenty shots at us McF's horse got along side of him a moment first and both him and horse were wounded He however ran him through twice with his saber and slashed his head in a frightfull [frightful] manner I fired but four shots one of which hit him glancing across the forehead It was an exciting chase One escaped because I was forced to remain and take care of my wounded comrade (I secured the horse of the dead reb [rebel] Together with his arms and equipments his bridle I kept for my own use as it was a fine one at some future time I may tell you some more particulars if some reb [rebel] does not serve me as we did him

Rumor is busy now telling our future destiny for the coming summer and so many places have been named that I am bewildered in doubt We may remain here but I scarcely believe it

Our Col has already gone to Washington and left the Reg [regiment] whether he will ever command us again is unknown to me I suppose he is to be made Brigadier Jeneral [General] although he sayes [says] he has no ambition that will summon him from the command of the 2^nd Mass [Massachusetts] with his consent and he further sayes [says] he would be willing to pit it against any twoo [two] rebel regiments in the field Some say we go to [Chalamage?] [Charlemagne] and others consign us to Texas and yet others to Washington City but I trust the latter place above all others is not our doom but a soldier must obey the will of others who may carry him where they will, but the thoughts will ever wander to friends wherever they be

Adieu O Ayer

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

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 [Captain] Adams He is no longer captain of our Co [company] but a Major in the 5 Mass [Massachusetts] (Colord) [Colored] Capt [Captain] Stone is now Capt [Captain] of our Co [company] and the best we had by far Our former Capt [Captain] 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 [Captain] Stone would be the one I remain as ever Sincerely

Yours

O Ayer