Campbell hospital
     Washington D C March 3   63
     Dear Sis ter it is with
pleasure that I take this
opportunity of answering your
welcom letter which came
to hand on the first you
and mother ware writing
about the same your hopes
ware realized for once for your
letter did find me better
than when you last heard
from me and I think that
by the time that this [crossed out] [reach]
es. reaches you I Shal be
better than I am now
at least I hope so
When you wrote you did
not say wither Edmond
had got well or not and
you did not say anything
about [T.C.?] wither he [crossed out] [he]
was as but as usual or
			  not

[Written in red ink on top of Scan 2]

March 1863

[End]

I am as you will see by
the heading of my letter
that I am Still in the
			[when?]
hospital our company ^[illegible due to damage]
          Sick and		
is not sick [crossed out] [is] in the
hospital has crossed the
potomace and are beyond the
bull run battle round
they are with two or
three regiments the rep
ort is that they are
                   a
chasing Stuurts cavalry
but arepart is areport here
it is not believed asoldier
learnes not to believe any
thing faster than it comes
along
Write to me soon and excuse
ashort letter this time
With love to all I remain your
affectionate brother
Gershom W Mattoon