Osborn Ayer - Civil War Correspondence

Soon after I returned from home I was out with the rest of the rig [regiment] we scattered into small squads and took about fifty prisoners with horses arms and equipments I was with a party of about twenty in number commanded by our Capt One night we were scouring the country searching houses &c [etc.] and had taken some prisoners who were put into my charge under a guard of four men Our party split in two one half going off to search a house half a mile or more away whilst the remainder preformed the same office at another place Whilst they were in the house I was left to take care of the prisoners in the road, it was about two at night and the moon shone verry [very] bright we were in a hollow which was shaded by a large hill I saw twoo [two] horsemen coming down the hill and leisurely approaching as I at first mistook them for our own men but could in no way account for their being there We were all dismounted and I told the boys to mount and be ready but not to challenge but let them come up as near as possible They came within about fifty yards and turned when they observed us, They turned, and fired at us and one McFarlin and myself gave chase, and it was a ride for life by moonlight, Our horses proved the best bolters and we came up with the

hindermost 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 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 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

Falls Church May 29^th/64 [1864]

Dear Sister, and friends at home some time since I received a letter from you which is not yet answered I knew you would hear from me by way of Sister G & Brother P as I had written to them since receiving yours, so that you would feel no uneasiness for me Today I am on guard and will employ my leasure [leisure] time in writing to you There is a jeneral [general] inspection in progress today and as I write the Reg [regiment] is passing in front of the guards tent in column I consider myself fortunate in escaping so great a bore as a jeneral [general] inspection always is They may be usefull [useful], but my eye for military purposses [purposes] is not fine enough to see the point I feel a shame come over me when I realise [realize] that our brothers in arms are pouring out their blood like rain, we are forced for the sake of show and to gratify the vanity of

of those who seek by & how to make up for common sense, and military ability to pass much valuable time in dress parade and useless inspections This marks twoo [two] in the present week besides breaking camp and mooving [moving] six miles and building another This is twice we have mooved [moved] camp and I do not think we will remain here long for I can see nothing which we are here for We have no line of pickets and we are now within six miles of Washington D. C. Twoo [Two] Companies in our Reg [Regiment] are dismounted by orders today They select those who have the poorest horses We have the best in our Co [Company] and I do not think they will ever dismount us untill [until] the whoe [whole] regiment shall be so, and I hope that will not be during our Term of service Our present camp is a verry [very] beautifull [beautiful] one but there is only our Reg [Regiment] here The 13^th is about half a mile from here and

the 16^th went to fairfax [Fairfax] C H the last I heard of them I presume they are in that vacinity [vicinity] now I have not seen Charly F Charles Farmsworth but once since he was home on a visit We burned our old camp and mooved [moved] in the night in one of the hardest rain storms of the season encamped at Falls Church about 12M and went into camp on the morning of the 27^th of May The night before breaking camp we lost two valuable men from our Co [Company] Sgt Parker and our Farrier The latter was shot dead and the former had six buck shot put into him and his recovery has been considered impossible but the DR [doctor] now sayes [says] there is a slight chance for his recovery L. Co [Company] has been the most unfortunate of all I think it time for a change and it must be in our favor if anything

There is a scout going out this afternoon and I shall miss by being on guard I should like to go but cannot this time