Greenbush Clinton Co March 11 65

        My Dearest Woodruff
		                     I have been
waiting to get a letter from you but
I have made up my mind from
what I have heard that you had 
to start off [some?] raid as soon as you
got back to camp for we hear
that Sheridan has had another
battle and took Gen. Early and
18 hundred prisoners and we suppose
of course you was along we
have not heard the particulars
yet as how many were killed
[crossed out] [as] and I feel that it may be
you may be among the number
but I hope for the best my only
trust is in God he has been
very kind and good to you and
spared your life and let you come
home that I might behold your face
once more and I pray that you
may still be the object of his care

we received a letter from George
on tuesday writen the 28th of
February he was well and had
got one hundred and 70 odd
dollars and expected to be mus
tered the next day for two months
pay and one installment of his
bounty so you see he has succeed
ed in getting his pay we was 
fearful he would not get it.
it will help us along comforta
ble and pay off some debts that
have been a great trouble he said
there was some propect of Peters
burg being evacuated and if it
was he Supposed they should
				      l
have to follow them Marys schoo^
was closed last saturday but she has
not come home yet she and Carrie
have been having a good time gener
aly this week going to spelling
schools and exhibitions and I dont
know how long it will last

we have had some very pleas
ant weather last week but
we have got another winter
now every thing is froze up
tight it commenced raining
and then froze sothat the gro
und is covered with ice and
a little snow on that sothat
it look like the midille of win
ter I felt bad that I did not
ask you to write as soon as you could
after you got back to camp but
I did not think of it but I hope
that will not make any
difference to write and let us
know how you are and lern
you got back Charlie Hammo
nd has lost his little wife she
died about one week ago she
has got rid of a troublesome
world and a lazy man they
lived at Pine run Mr Hammond
went out to the funeral

Mr [Rolfes?] wife has come back
to him and is going to compel
him to take care of her and
I am glad of it for I think he
has played the fool about it
but I Shall have to close for I
See Pa is getting ready to start for
town.  with much love I am as eve
your own dear loving and
		affectionate Mother
		        N L Mattoon
		        G W Mattoon
I was very lone ly after you
left