[Penciled in on top of Scan 1]

[1861]

[End]

	Camp [illegible] detroit dec 25

	Dear Sister I Supose you
	have heared from home that
	I have inlisted in the first
	united States lancers I
inlisted the 23 of november and came to 
detroit where we Staid at the city
hotel untill mondy when we ware taken
to the fort wayne where we Staid two or
or three weeks we had very comfortabl
quarters for Sleeping though we had to march
about eighty roods for our meals which w
						ippi
took on board asteem boat named the mississ^
while we ware at the fort we had very
good times we did not drill much
and it would have done you good to [halv?]
ha Seen a load of wood come into the fort
every company ware determind to have
there Share of it and Sometimes they
would quarrel for two hours for one
stick though they were in fun
				 end
all the time fights are very frequ^

perhaps you have heard that there
is Six or eight hundred men
here but if you have there is not
for four hundred and fifty are the
most that have been here yet and
the y desert as fast as they comein
we have been here a little over two
weeks for some time we ware [fed?]
by contract    we had enough to eat
though it was none of the [cleanest?]
				      ter
I hope that you will write me a let^
very soon   I hope that you will
				    ed
not think that I have been offend^
that because I have not written
you a letter before this for I have
not been but since I came here I have
not had time I have not received
any uniform yet but I hope to soon
then I shall try to get a furlow and
go home if I do I Shall come out and
See you if I possably can I forgot

    Say that I am well and hope that
you all are well there are Six boys
two from our neighborhood one has
deserted one gone home on fur low

Perhaps you have heard roommers
that this regiment would be
dis banded I can tell you but little
about it except that it is not yet
but there is some probibility that
it may yet for they say that it
must be filled by the first of
january and if it must it will
go down it is the general topic
of conversation
	but I must stop this and go
and help get dinner
				    ten
Tell Edmond that I have not forgo^
him and will [crossed out] [not] write him the
next letter give my love to all [jC?]
amongst the rest
   pleas write so that it wil get

[Penned in on top of Scan 4]

Dec. 25 1861

[End]

hereby the fourth of
january for I want to gt
home then
	From your absent brother
	G W Mattoon