Camp [Gray?]
	Washington DC
	     January 22 63
	     Dear sister I
	     [crossed out] [received] your
	     welcom letter
	     of the fifteenth
	     came to hand
a few days ago it found
		            ion
		    except^
me well with the [crossed out] [excep^]
of a very hard cold which is
very common here the weather
is so changable for one or two
days it has been raining
			    wind
with avery cold [crossed out word]
			  eable
which makes it very disagre
being out I was glad to hear
from you and to know that
you ware well and that
E was getting better   I
was very sorry to hear of
cousins [illegible] death. I
have though of him many
times since I have been here

and hoped that I might
chance to see him and [illegible due to stain]
both [illegible] down here during
the battle of fredericksburg
and thare ware hundreds of
wounded brought to this city
I know not how to answer
				will
your questions but I [crossed out word]^
do so as nearly as possible
				tion
I can not give you the satisfac^
you would like to have
for I cannot profess that
which I do not feel
the evidence which you [seek?]
I cannot now [give?] to you but
			            time
I hope that I may some [crossed out word]^
		                                       u
I have not thought [“a” crossed out] [ m^ach] about
it that Subject since I came
in to the army but since
you have been so kind as
to write to me about it
I will try to think more

seriously of it in the future
and to send my testiment
			    try
[illegible due to stain] and ^ to abide by it
[illegible due to stain] fits more And as to that
letter you refered to I think
			 od
that you both misundersto
			         [mber?]
the meaning of it I d not reme
how it was written but
I do not think that I
[ment?] Edmond at all but
the obStacles was nearer
[house?] it was about the
time of [illegible] on the
[prarie?] that I wrote that
letter and it was then that
the [obstacles?] was presented
to [impead?] my advance
perhaps I shall see you again
some time then I can explain
the matter more satisfactory
to you With love to all to
					          ate
[illegible] I subscribe myself your affection^
brother [crossed out word] Gershom W Mattoon

     Camp [Gray?] Washington DC jan 23 [63?]
[Penned in with red ink] [ Jan. 1863]

     Dear brother again I [illegible due to stain]
my pen to finish this [illegible due to stain]
We are drilling most every [illegible due to stain]
[illegible] have got but [paid?] [illegible due to stain]
arms but we expect to soon [illegible due to stain]
have them We have been
[Brigaded?] with the fifth whose
[illegible] [is overall?] about three miles
from here monday last we
ware marched over to their
camp for brigade drill which
[ocupyde?] most all days we went
by the capitol house and in
Sight of the white house
like wise and through
the principle Street but I
must close this From your
absent brother Gershorn
W Mattoon
P S I wish you had some
  of your honey down here
it brings 25 cts a pound here