A bout Crotz I have told you all I know a bout him three or four times but I dont think you ever got the letters. I got one letter from him that was wrote the 4 of July and that is the only one I ever got from him he was gitting a long fine I wrote to him the other day but I think he dont git my letters. I think if Frank [i.e., Sgt. James F. Fryrear, Co. K, 84th Illinois Infantry] tryes wright he can git a furlow easy enough. I suppose Shawley will splurg a roun like thunder and try to make folks think he is some buddy I donot believe that he would make money no matter how good a chance he had. The Captain has no chance to take such things in out of the wet tobacco he can once in a while slip out some that comes for some one

that is back sick. I was here when the boots come. I dont think he done the clean thing my self it was not mutch but any one that will take little things will take bigger ones if they can git a chance. I would like to have had some of your beans and grean corn I havenot had any this summer I dont suppose we will git any until we git home then I think we will have a big mess I would like to go up to the field and look a round and see how things was gitting a long one more year and then comes the good time if we live that long. I dont suppose that sap and forgy is a fraid of the draft that they want to sell out they would be as likely to be drafted

their as any place I suppose they think they can git more land and better I dont think they can git any better land than what they have got now if they cant make a living their they nead not go any whare els thinking they can make a living any easyer if they will come down here and see this god forsaken country they will go back content with what they have got I have wrote more than will interest you so I will quit write often to your hopeful in the army

H H Maley

Wm M and
E A Maley