Dear Father and Mother. I received your letter of the 11.. I was very glad to here from you I am well at present and I hope this will find you all the same. There is but little to write it dont seam to me as tho we are going to git out much before our time is out I think if Curby Smith [i.e., Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith] would [illeg] under we would go home shortly he dont seam inclined to surrender with out he has to the papers this morning talk as tho he would quit before long we git the nuse every morning I believe the Potomac army will be mustered out before we are if any one has to

go to Texas we will have to go I dont want to go I thought for A while we would get home this month if we get home next month we will be doing well it is only 3 months any how.. I guess they are nearly as farward with there crops in Ills as they are here they have corne up here and some are plowing for corn yet I dont think I will get home in time to plow much this year and I am to lazy to work any how. I am glad to here that Father has got A corn planter if it is the right cind A hand planter dont suit me I want one I can ride on walking dont suit my stile. I suppose Charles [i.e., Charles H. Maley] will make it pay with his dog I hope he will git his money back. There is some talk of us getting pay soon we could take care of A bout 2 months pay very well now.

     You wanted to know if I wanted to sell that colt I dont have any clame on it you can do as you please with him if you want the money sell him I dont know as I ever would want him if I want A horse I can buy one I should think that was A very good price. I think stock will come down before long. I suppose Forgeys are A bout the same as they use to be they use to look A bout like we did last summer on the campaign. It is going to rain so I will quit for this time write often to the Prodigal Snob in the army

H H Maley

Wm M And
E A Maley