Mr George Thomas

     Respected Sir your kind Letter is at hand and Contents Noted and in answer to the same I will Just say to you that I was Truly glad to hear from you and to hear that you had arived safe Back to your Regiment and feel my self under many obligations to you for having My Brothers Descriptive Roles forwarded to him [i.e., Pvt. Abraham Hiley, Co. f, 53rd Indiana Infantry] I will say to you that he has Receved them and he has als Receved his Dischare papers and is know at home but I Dont think that he will Ever Bee able to Do any Labor of any kind he has Lost the use of his Right Leg and Cant go only By the use of twoo krutches I will know say to you that my self and family ar all well and the gineral health of this County is good times ar very Dull altho the money is pleantier hear than I Ever saw it the air is Some Rejoising hear to Day we have Just heard that Burnsides [i.e., Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside] has floged the Rebels at Fredercksburg [sp. Fredericksburg] thair is nothing hear that would Bee Likely to Interest you theair fore I will

close By wishing the sucksess of the Cause in which you ar Engagued and hoping that you may have your Life spaird to see this mater Brought to spedy Close and you with all the Res of our friends Return home to the Diferent States of thear Locality again to Enjoy the Society of their families and friends I have two Nephews in your Regiment thay ar in Townsen old Company [i.e., Capt. John F. Townsend, Co. C, 53rd Indiana Infantry] thair Names ar Lewis and John Crists [i.e., Pvt. Lewis M. Crist and Pvt. John Crist, Co. C, 53rd Indiana Infantry] you will please give them my Respects and Except the same your self when you ar at Leasure I hope you will Rite to me as I alway Like to Read something from the hand of a soldier

Fraturnaly yours
John Hiley