..Dear Father..and Mother.. I will write a few lines in answer to yours of the 15.. I was glad to here from you and to here things are giting a long so fine..
     I come off picket this morning so you may know I am well I hope this will find you all well
     Their is not mutch going on here now. We had a gay old time last night it rained nearly all night I had a good gumb blanket and I was as dry as a fish.. it is a bout a mile from camp to where we picket

it has bin very easy here for a week I guess the wet wether has set in I think if it rains mutch longer we can not mak an nother campaign this fall Some think we will try the rebs a nother whet before long I donot care any thing a bout it..
     I am glad that Mr. Fryrears have herd from frank [i.e., Sgt. James F. Fryrear, Co. K, 84th Illinois Infantry] I hope he will git home if he is no better than he was when he left the regiment he never will git well with out he git home he will be more likely to git home them going after him I do not think he will ever be with the regiment a gain.. Their has bin quite a number of the boys poot in for furlows I think. Ira W..Beaty will git to go home he is like Frank he neads

good living and rest for a while..
     I was thinking that them old harness would be worn out by this time I see you speak about Father mending them. I hope they will be gone up the spout before I git home if they are not I will tear them all to the devel if I git a hold of them. I should think he was able to buy a new set by this time..
     I got a letter from Juliett to day they are not very well they have got an nother daughter I think they will have a house full after a while they are living on a farm now they must have a good farm. she says that she hasnot had a let from you for a long time she says you are talking of going over

their this fall if you go try and git a new set of harness donot be so devlish stingy when we git pay I will Send you enough to git a new set. I would like to be their to go with you if you go
     Charles [i.e., Charles H. Maley] is surely not an old soldier or the girls couldnot bluff him the way you speak of
     Well I have wrote more than you will care a bout reding so I will quit this is from

H H Maley

Wm..M Maley
E A Maley