Dear Father And Mother

I will write A few lines to let you know that I am well and I hope this will find you the same. their is nothing of importance to write. wee had review the other day it was only the .1. division we had A very good time Gen. Stanly [i.e., Maj. Gen. David S. Stanley] and Gruse [i.e., Brig. Gen. William Grose] reviewed us. that is A very good sign that we will not stay here long their is no talk of leaveing yet I donot care A bout leaveing for A while I like this place very well. their is some talk of gitting pay soon

I suppose we will git six months pay. I dont care much whether we git pay before our time is out It is raning to day and has rained for A week. Their was A string band playing here last night they belong to the 3 division they had very poor instruments the banjo they had was not as good as the one that Dave Abdel use to have. I think it was made out of a fig box it was a bout that size. I suppose my old banjo hangs behind the door yet with A bout one string on it I think I will have it strung up in A bout 6 months if some reb dont shoot me their is A chance for that yet.

     The nuse in the papers are very good I think if things go on this way for A while the war will end before long I dont see how they can stand it they are gitting whiped every time with great loss. I should not wonder if their would be A big fight before long they are gitting the rebs in A close place and I would not care if the last one was killed they could settle this country up with white folks. now you cant tell A negro from the whites with out you can see their face and then it is hard to tell sometimes about the best-looking woman in this place is part negro. you see that is not saying much for the white women

I have saw some of the gayest wrigs here that I ever saw in my life bedcord lines and husks collars and A old coffee sack for A backband and every thing els according. if we git pay here we will have A good time. they take .10. or .12. every day to the guard house. Well I suppose you will git tired of reding this so I will bring this document to A close. Write often to your hopeful in the army.

H. H. Maley

William M. And
E. A. Maley