June the 23,1865
I again Seat myself to write you a few lines although with sorrowing feelings. For I have not writing to you since the relentless hand of death has took from us our loved one and we know that it is the hand of the Lord that hath done it, but yet how hard to give him up and think he died away from home and friends but we hope he had good care and trusted in the Lord to & that he has gone to rest. but so it is ever in life for even in its midst we are in death. O how many hearts are draped in mourning for desolation this war has wrought among our people and yet it must be for good, or God would not permit it. It will be hard when others welcome home their loved ones to know that some of our can never come.
Benton and John there went a tuesday after Wilson they got home with him a friday night eleven oclock and a sunday he was buried the next sunday the funerl (sic) was preach o how hard it was to have him home and not see him they seen him down their (sic) and they thought it best not to open it again after he got home with him. and brought his things to he had lots of writing paper i am writing on one of his sheets now it is very good paper and a number of invelopes (sic) to he had he could have writing great many letters if he had been spard (sic) to do it. i hope you come before long so we need not write any more letters to Newbern so will stop for my papers is about full so good night
I recieved your letter last night the 22 and thank you for it. we have not any letters from you since you wrote to benton that you had got his letter that told of Wilson death. Newton wrote a letter and put in five dollars and sent it then. since we have not writing. because we have been expecting you home by the reports of others that came home and by others writing that you could be in this week. but it is a faulse (sic) hoop (sic) i presume. i was glad to hear that you was well and we are all well as common. father and Newton is a hoeing corn up to bents where we had corn last year.
Cornelia is gone to school i am alone and it seems quite lonesome, to for it looks so different i sometimes think i ant home. o dear what a site of trouble i have seen since you left hear (sic) it seems it has been one trouble after another this year and losing our house *** and so many things to. and everything mostly out around our house the trees they have cut all most of them down and what they havnt will have to be cut down for they are all adieing o it look desolate, its like the ruins of bablon.
We went to wolcott the 3 of June and took aunt caty their and left her to make a long visit i dont no (sic) when she will be back they are all well uncle cornelious & Rachel is gone to Ohio they expect to call Clarence when they come back. i had a letter from Annette the other day she lives in Union Springs. well i must stop writing or tier (sic) your patience for i have got to go and get ten come to supper now. so good by for this time write soon if you dont come home shortly
your mothers best respects to you
H J Mattoon J W Mattoon
*** The house in Niles burned to the ground and they made do as they could. John Watson Mattoon was my great-grandfather, Laurel
September 27, 1975 Melrose Road , Auburn New York
Gladys Matoon Gott
To the consistory of the Owasco Reformed Church, to help you in your historical research, I forward this letter by Laurel Auchampaugh for the church to keep in their posession forever. This Civil War Letter describing the death of Wilson Mattoon age 18 of Niles, descendant of an eary subscriber to the church Alfred Mattoon in 1826.
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