cams_OAyers_b12_F006_002_001

Camp Brightwood [Camp Brightwood, D.C.] June 17^th 63 [1863]

Friends at home

I snatch a moment
from the hurry of time to write a few lines
in ans [answer] to a letter received on the 14^inst at the
time of its arrival I was away from camp
on an excursion into Virginia (or as it is here
termed) down to the front The ride was a severe
one some days being in the saddle from 2 AM
until 8 P.M We crossed the Potomac at daylight
in persuit [pursuit] of some rebel cavelry [cavalry] who made a dash
upon a Michigan outpost of 30 men killing three
wounding four and nine others missing supposed
to be captured The rebels lost a first lieutenant
and Sergeant killed and left on the ground
Their wounded were carried away Our
persuit [pursuit] was not successful in overtaking
them as they were much better acquainted with
The roads and cut-offs then we were The rebels
were commanded by John Singleton Mosby the gurrilley [guerrilla] Our
rout took us through the path where war with
all its desolating effects has traveled from the earliest