Dear Father and Mother

it is with pleasure that I take this oppertunity to let you know that I am well and I hope this will find you the same We left Atlanta two weeks a go and have bin going ever since all most night and day I guess the rebs thought they would make us leave Atlanta all of the rebil army is up here and all of ours but the 20th Corps they are their yet and intend to stay their. We have had a hard time. the rebs

thought they would take String gap their was a lot of grub their but they could not come it they come on up and toar up the railroad from resacca [sp. Resaca] to dalton they went on to tunnel hill and got whiped. I guess they are trying to go as far north as they can they say we are going on a raid down through allabama [sp. Alabama] we will be gone ..60.. days. We are living fat to day. Stockton [i.e., Pvt. William H. Stockton, Company K, 84th Illinois Infantry] went out and got part of a hog and a chicken and we had a good time We have only got male once since we started. the rebs got some of our male the most of the boys got

letters from home but me. I suppose the rebs got mine I think they are gon up for fifty days they have no grub only what they pick up they say they have no ammunition only what they can pack every man has 200 rounds we keepe them going they git no rest they are playing out fast the rebs say they are going to Nashville I think they will have a good time.. We got the nuse that Frank [i.e., Sgt. James F. Fryrear, Co. K, 84th Illinois Infantry] was dead Captain got official notice of it and Beaty boys got a letter stateing his death I am very sorry to here of it

his folks will take it very hard
     I must bring this to a close Write often to your hopeful in the army

H.H. Maley

To Wm Maley
and E A Maley