4 page letter (1 folded sheet) in ink; measures 5" x 8". Overall condition is very good, though the paper has a number of light stains, age yellowing and a few spots of foxing. Accompanied by a typed transcription and brief research material, and a copy of the book Never Desert the Old Flag by Michael Dreese, which contains a brief account of the events which took place.

Corporal Henry Mattoon directs his missive to his "Friend George". Mattoon was 24 years old when he enlisted on 8/4/62 at Canandaigua, NY. On 8/22/62 he mustered into Co. D, 126th NY Infantry. Listed as a POW on 9/15/62 at Harper's Ferry. Paroled 9/16/62. Wounded 7/3/63 at Gettysburg. Promoted to Sergeant 11/18/63. On 2/15/64 he was transferred into Co. I, 1st Veteran Reserves. Discharged 6/29/65 at Albany, NY.

After playing a key role in the repulse of Barksdale's attack on July 2, 1863, the men of the 126th NY were placed in a reserve position in Ziegler's Grove when Pickett's Charge began. Gen. Alexander Hays ordered the regiment to wheel forward in order to enfilade the Confederate lines during the height of the charge. At this point Cpl. Ambrose Bedell, who bore the colors, was wounded in the hand, at which point the flag passed to Corporal Mattoon. Immediately thereafter, Mattoon received a gunshot wound to the neck which just missed his spine.

The letter is dated 'McDougall General Hospital / Fort Schuyler NY July 31st, 1863". Text reads in part:

I received your letter yesterday I am sorry to hear of your illness….a man cannot have good luck all the time. If he did, then I should not have had a hole put through my neck, but it is getting nearly well and in the course of a week or two get a furlough and then hurrah for home and friends once more before I mingle with the scenes of carnage and the field of battle again.
I am going to New York today on a pass of 24 hours I expect to see the Elephant but haven't got any money….
You were fortunate to draw clear of the draft. You can't imagine what the scenes the battlefields presents there is while a soldier stands amid the din of battle, the groans of the dying, the roar of artillery, the sharp piercing crack of small arms. There is a sort of fascination, I heated nothing while I was standing in the ranks loading and firing except the fall of the foe and when we were ordered to make the charge and the glistening bayonets' were brought to a charge - the command of forward double quick, you had ought to seen the 3rd Brigade with a yell that drowned the roar of artillery. They sprung forward and over the fence through the swamp, up the hill, the rebels flying before us. We took two brass 32 pound guns, 100 prisoners and could have taken at least 500 stand of small arms. We turned to retreat and went back to our old position, which we occupied until the next day. When a brisk cannonade, until about 4 o'clock about in the afternoon when the rebels advanced in 3 lines of battle from under the hill in our front. There it was that we had hot work. Our brigade which was composed of the 39th, 111th, 125th, and 126th N.Y. Volunteers did not flinch a bit in the midst of this charge of the enemy. I was wounded. I had the regimental colors at the time, the fringe of the Old Flag caught in the dry limbs of a tree and as I turned sideways to the enemy to disengage it, the ball struck me.
Well, when I come home I will tell you more. I have only just begun as I lay on the ground I saw the horrors of war.

Write again your friend,
Henry

Excuse me for making you pay the postage for I am all out of money.