Maple Ridge Sep 21st 1862

     Brother Edmond I take my
pen in hand to [scrall?] you
a few lines this morning to let
you know that I am well
and hope that this will
find you the Same I have
been thinking every Since
I came home that I would
write you afew lines but
have not had time when 
I thought of it or have
not thought of it when
I had time As you See I
			      ted
did not go as Soon as I expec^
to the man that I thought
                    h
of going wit[crossed out letter] did not come
back
[crossed out word] when he Said he would
but I had made up my mind
to go some way. on Sunday
I Saw aman from the 23 reg. inf.
and he Said that he would take

me if I would go with him as
they were to go early the next
morning I told him that I would
go if they would take me So on
monday morning at five oclock
I bid our folks good by as I
thought forgood and Still it
Seemed as if it ware not So
whar I got to St johns I
found the man on the cars ready
to Start the lieutenant of the
company was with him he said
it was to late he could not
inlist any more it being the first
day of September So they went
			        ing
off with out me after I make^
up my mind to wait for the
draft but when we got up in
the village I met aman on
the Sidewalk who asked me
if I did not want to enlist
I told him that I did So I went to

his office put [crossed out word] down my
				       d
name was swornin and commence^
drawing pay he told me then that
				pids
I would go to camp at grand rap^
in about ten days from that time
but it has taken them longer
to rais their company than they
thought for So that I am not
gone yet though I am ready to
go any time they See fit to call
forme   They have not commenced
drafting here yet there is no
certainty when they wil
but I most close for this time
write me very Soon cause why
I have not had a letter since I
came home last Spring so I want 
you and [illegible] to write me along
				      use
letter and direct as usual (pleas exc^
Give my love to all (all bad
  your honorable Servant (writing
    G W Mattoon (and spelling
this summer) as this is the first writing I have done

[Penned in on top of Scan 4] 

Sept. 1862

[End]

		Sep 24th 1862
You [so?] that it is some
time since I commenced
this is but father is
going [crossed out word] up to town
[crossed out] [so that I can send it]
So that I can Sened it
to the post office
I See by your letter that
one of uncle [illegible] boys
[illegible] In the [illegible] cavalry
or second mounted rifles
which is the one that I
am going in
	father is in [illegible]
	So good by for this
	time
	   G W Mattoon