Camp 9th Mass Battery
at Centreville Va. May 31st 1863.

Miss Anna Warren Weston!

Kind friend! --- With pleasure I take this opportunity to write to you a few lines to let you know that I have not forgotten you. I expected a letter from you a good while ago -- but I found out that the letters which I sent to you last have not reached you. --- I herewith write again in hope that you will receive this one in good spirits - health and strength to read this letter with such sentiment as I read yours with affection, love, confidence, faith and hope. I am allways happy when I get a letter from you. I know you as a true hearted lady and as a true friend of me, pure, kind, delightful and virtuous. -- I think very often of you and remember you all the time where ever I may be.

I live very content here at Centreville. We here made our quarters us so comfortable, as when it seems like home. -- The tents are ??? again but better as we had at Fort Ramsey. Here at the Bull run ground are a immense of Rebel barracks which does supply us with fire wood and the clap boards coming handy to use for our tents! Nails too. Everything handy nice for our tent looks like a little house. -- The Sergt. and I only occupy one tent what gives us plenty room -- convenient for anybody - lady or gentleman who may choose to visit me - or us. -- The wood part of the house is with boards build square with a door in the front - on the rear flank we have a shelf extending from right to left - on the right I have my bunk build like a sofa. In front of it a table - and on the shelf I place my book ate[?]. ---- The same here the Sergt. on the left on the top of this square we have our tent canvas as a roof, so arranged as to open it in front and rear to let the air pass through on a hot day. This nice comfortable quarter makes it pleasant to us - especially on those days on account that we don't do much. -- Capt. Bigelow gives us good times now, while it is warm. -- He takes his comfort too. ---

I have made up my mind not to worry myselve on account not being in active movement to march to the fighting ground or on to Richmond. So I take it just as easy as the rest do. -- I do my duty as a soldier. -- Go we all right - stay we all right too. -- Let the government work it as they like. -- She got the power. -- We soldiers do obey for love of the wellfare of our country liberty.

It seems to one as when we may stay here a good while to come. -- I spoke yesterday with Lieut. Foster. -- He said he would not be surprised to see Hooker fall back here -- and that there would would be another Bull run Battle. -- I told him, that I could not see that hardly - but if so then that we should be engaged into it while we were allready there! --

Last Wednesday night we had a raid here, in the day time our pickets were fired at - at night General Hays with a few Cavalry and the Garibaldi Regt and other officers volunteerly went out on a scout. The officers had a hell of a time - they they took five prisoners - but seeing some dust in the rear of them - thinking they were Rebels, perhaps they were so they scadadled - and lost their prisoners but one - and that one was a crippel just got home from Richmond as discharged soldier. -- Our Lieut. Milton said he never rode his horse so fast in his life then that time. -- He lost the blanket. -- Gen Hays lost a part of his saber so they came back in our line again. -- The Garibaldi Regt arrived in good spirits singing German at four a ???. -- Since that night the pickets are all around here at night time for fear the Rebels making a charge in the Battery to take it. -- I was on guard last night and usual as I do walk around to watch my sentrys. I saw a man walking near our camp. -- Well I went up to him - to see who he was - at once he halted one - by Jerusalem I thought it was a Rebel. I thought of my pistol - but grab at my saber and went to him with the counter. - Seeing it was the all right - finding that it was a Garibaldi doing picket duty. -- The citizens or freemen getting quite bold here lately. They meet on a agreeable plan at night with their horses and fooling our pickets - but they better look out, else they wont bye it again.

Last Thursday we all the non. commissioned officers went out mounted for saber drill - but after this we took the opportunity to ride a little forder [further] to see the country. -- We came on very nice farms, but in a wild condition. There is plenty grass and clover. We rested on one spot to give our horses a bit of clover which tasted to them like honey. -- We came on one house when Stonewall Jackson had once his head quarters. - I spoke to the woman in the house and asked her for a pint of milk which she did hand to one but would not receive any pay. -- She told one Jackson was once in her house. - I ask her what kind of a man he was. -- Oh she said I saw him walking with my husband in the garden. - He is tall and a very nice man a Christian. -- I had not much time to spare. I asked her if she was sympathetic to the South or North. -- Well she said her husband is in the Southern Army. -- I gave my horse the spurs and joined my collum. -- We passed a good many farms, but the buildings are all burnt down leaving the great big chimneys standing.

We put sometimes some of our horses to grass but the trouble is that we can not catch them when we want them. -- The same like Padkety[?] does and run up and down the bank. -- When we want to get out for a ride to Brack hill -- the other day our pull horses of the caisson run of[f] to Fairfax where we found them the night. -- Since that time it has played out - the horses got to stay at the picket rope. ---

We have a good time here -- but it is alonesome to stay as long on one place. -- I get regular my letters now from Almira what will make me the time short and content. I would feel better if I could see Almira, Anna and you all once a while. This is impossible so I must be contend and am content hoping to kome come home on a furlough next Winter when it is possible what I think it is. -- I have sent of[f] a letter to Miss Deborah a few days ago. -- I hope she her received it. -- I heard Mrs Weston is going to hang her Memorial up a spell in the post office - which will give a good many a chance to see the Battery. -- I wish that our Battery would come in a fight soon to get a good range at the Rebels - to do somethings to show valor.

Gen. Hays applied at Gen. Heintzelmans [Maj. Gen. Samuel P. Heintzelman - Department of Washington] headquarters some days ago to have him sent to the front with his brigade and asked for our Battery to go with him. -- Gen., Heintzelman asked him what kind of Battery it was! Oh said Hays it is a splendid one. -- Well old Heintzelman repeated then it shall remain just where it is now. -- So it is with Gen. Abercrombie the same he thinks a great deal of this Battery. -- That the reason that he keep us all the time with him - where he moves. --

I have received the box which Almira has sent me. -- I feel very rich now. - I thank Mrs Weston very much for the tea and artikel [article?] she has put with it. It will do one some good on this hot weather. I got the box yesterday Saturday from Union Mills -- and opened it last night supper time wherely I found valuable things but I was surprised to find Peter's likeness on the top. I shall write to him as soon as I have the time for it. I guess by the looks he will make a nice soldier. -- He looks as healthy as ever, he may have to come out to next fall and join this Battery. We need some men. -- Please give my kind regard to Miss Emma and to the Doctor. -- Hoping that this letter will find you and Mrs Weston so all of you in good in good health - and wishing to get a letter from you soon to hear of you. What is my great desire and favor one to give my love to Almira and Anna also to give my remembrance to Mary Riley and Margarether & to Peter. Close I my writing to you for this time content & healthy .

Your affectionate friend
Augustus Hesse

{Written sideways on first page} I have forgotten to give you the account of our activity last light but I mentioned in my letter to Almira in which you will find the matter and how we are employed to face the enemy who dare to come on over here. ------------