Greenbush Monday August 12 1861

    Dear Sister after waiting long for a letter
from you and not receiveing any I thou
ght I would write afew lines to you and let
				             e
you know that we are all well and hop^
				e
that this will find you the sam^
We have been looking for you or a letter
this long while but have seen neither
			well
you have all be unusual ^ this summer.
					           ent
The war is creating con a goodeal of excitem^
							          d
here I know of [crossed out] [8] eight that have enliste^
in the eighth regiment and about
as many more that think of going
I thought Saturday that I would go
but [Many?] felt So bad that I shall
be obliged to stay at home for the pre
Sent.    Crops look very good around here
we have 9 acres of corn on [Mon?] Hammonds
place which looks very good since the
rain we have 2½ acres of Spring wheat
and about three of oats boath of witch look
ruther Short though they are well
filled
[two words crossed out] James Hammond enlisted
in the third regiment last spring and
           the
went to ^ grand rapids camp on Monday just
				  	       t
two weeks from which day he was brough^
					             th
home [illegible] corps the circomstances of his dea^
were about as followes on Sunday morning
he with the rest of his company went in to
the river to bathe he swam about forty
					       			ood
feet from the Shore [illegible letter] when he broke a bl^
vessel and was unable to get to the Shore

Greenbush retreat August Monday 12 1861
    [drawings of various people]
Edman Reynolds
As to that corn if there is any left
you may use it to fat my Share of that
pig or in any other [crossed out letter] way you please
if you want [crossed out word] me to [board?] and
go to School with you this winter just
Say So the first time that you write
which I hope will not be long for I
want to hear from you Soon
Write as soon as you as can
	From your obedient Servent
		Gershom Woodruffe
			Mattoon
L  C  please write to Mary Soon for
She wants to hear from you very
much
	    I [crossed out letter] Am as ever your obedient
					Servent
				G W Mattoon

P S I hope to See you out here before long