Dear Father And Mother

     I will write you a few lines to let you know that I am well. I hope this will find you all the same.. Their is not mutch going on here now only cleaning camp and drill we have to drill twice a day and clean camp the rest of the time. We have bin at it today I suppose it is pooting the rebellion down cleaning Georgia soil I cant see it that way we had to shave off all the grass and pack it off and then throw up the streat like a publick road and smooth it off nice --

if it was doing any good I wouldnot mind it but I cannot see any good comeing from it with out it is to settle our grub we git so mutch and it is so good we git some of the awfulest beef I ever saw.. they give the ..77.. P.. V.. [i.e., 77th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry] regiment a beef that had the big jaw and it was so poor it could hardly walk I think that is a little to bad to use any bodd.. The boys are giting a long fine their is but one or two that is sick now.. I see their is some very good nuse in the papers now I hope it is all so. I would like the war to end without us having to make an nother campaign I think if Grant could spoil that army it would a bout end the thing I don't suppose

that could hardly be done.. Their is lots of talk one can here any thing they want to I can give you a sampel I herd one of the boys say just now that he herd that Grant was killed and Ritchmond [sp. Richmond] was taken. all such stuff as that you can here all the time it has got so common that we dont think any thing of it,... Samuel D.. [i.e., Pvt. Samuel M. Davenport, Co. G, 84th Illinois Infantry] hasent bin very well for some time he is not bedfast.. I got a letter from Squair the other day he had got a letter from you a fiew day before he wrote and one from Tommy. he has quit peddling and gon at some thing els.. I don't believe they are gitting a long very well.. I guess James Gray is makeing money they are on a farm now

I suppose you have had letters from them before this telling all a bout there Daughter.. Write and let me know how Frank [i.e., Sgt. James F. Fryrear, Co. K, 84th Illinois Infantry] is if you know,
     you will be tired of this so I will quit Write often to your hopeful

H.H. Maley

To Wm.. M Maley
And E A Maley