The Maley collection includes fifty wartime letters, written by Henry Maley to his parents in Henderson County. Eight of these appear to be fragments, lacking either a first or second sheet. None of the original envelopes have survived, and there are no enclosures of any kind. The earliest of the letters, dated 19 August 1862, was written from Camp Quincy, Illinois, during the regiment's organization. The remaining 49 letters were written in the eleven months between 2 July 1864 and 29 May 1865, and so provide a fairly continuous account of the final year of Maley's service (the longest interval between letters being 24 days). At least 19 of the letters were written during two of the Western theater's decisive campaigns: Sherman's drive on Atlanta (May to September 1864) and the Nashville campaign (November and December 1864). Even though the letters are addressed to Maley's parents, there is nothing deferential in their tone. Nor is there any indication of an interest in religion; even passing allusions to the deity are absent from the letters, except for two references to Illinois as "gods country". All Maley's letters strive to summarize for his parents the events of the period since last he wrote. Like most soldiers, he relays a fair amount of second-hand information, especially when describing matters of strategy and command. Maley calls such hearsay "nuse," and is well aware that it may be partially or wholly untrue. After explaining Johnston's replacement by Hood as commander of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, he observes: "I have wrote more nuse in this letter than any other. there is some of it I dont believe but I thought I would write it all so you would have an idy how things is here." (25 July 1864). More commonly, Maley seems to confine his "nuse" to items he finds credible. He is disdainful of the rumor-mongering prevalent in the camps: Their is lots of talk one can here any thing they want to I can give you a sampel I herd one of the boys say just now that he herd that Grant was killed and Ritchmond was taken. all such stuff as that you can here all the time it has got so common that we dont think any thing of it,... (28 September 1864). This essential skepticism — a veteran's skepticism — is evident throughout the letters. There is certainly no reason to doubt Maley's conscientiousness as a witness, even if the news passed on to his parents is sometimes erroneous. Much more of the letters' content relates to Maley's immediate experience. He is always careful to recount his movements, with a specificity that suggests he kept a log (though this is not mentioned in the letters). His tactical accounts of the regiment's engagements, while relatively brief, are quite consistent with existing records; he does not seem to have been given to willful exaggeration, in this respect or any other. During the ten-odd weeks of the Atlanta campaign covered by the letters, the 84th Illinois was involved in many skirmishes and minor actions, but was mostly spared direct engagement in the campaign's more catastrophic battles (though news of these is always conveyed in the letters). The first action involving the 84th Illinois described by Maley was an advance on the Confederate lines at Smyrna Camp Ground, northwest of the Chattahoochee River, on 4 July 1864 (letter of 9 July). This attack did not seek to carry the main Confederate works, but succeeded in establishing entrenchments 300-400 yards away; the Confederates withdrew during the night. The regiment emerged unscathed, in part because (as Maley says) the Confederate gunners overshot the attacking troops as they moved rapidly downhill. The 84th Illinois was next engaged on the evening of 20 July, along the south fork of Peachtree Creek (letter of 21 July 1864). The soldiers of Company K were among the skirmishers who attacked the rifle pits lying before the main Confederate works; these latter were taken, and 43 men made prisoner. (The regiment was not involved in the furious fighting that took place that same day along Peachtree Creek, which saw Hood's attacks repulsed by other elements of IV Corps). During the night of 21-22 July the Confederates evacuated their works, and Maley's brigade pursued, ultimately establishing entrenchments 2 to 2 1/2 miles northwest of Atlanta (letter of 25 July 1864; Maley says this advance occurred "night before last," which can be correct only if the letter is misdated). The 84th remained in this general position for about a month, as Sherman laid siege to the city. Skirmishes were conducted in the sector, but there were no assaults on the main works. Two such skirmishes are described in the letter of 5 August. Each of these involved members of Company K — though not, apparently, Maley. The first, on 3 August, was a success, gaining 26 prisoners. The second, on 5 August, was a failure. The next action described by Maley occurred in the campaign's final days. On 25 August Sherman had broken off the siege, wheeling to his right, around the city, to sever the last remaining rail lines to the south and so force Hood out of Atlanta. The letter of 5 Septemberdescribes the long, counter-clockwise march to the Macon Railroad, and the fighting that ensued. On 1 September the regiment formed to attack, near Jonesboro, but darkness fell and the Confederates withdrew. The next day an attack was made, four miles south at Lovejoy's Station, with the 84th Illinois in the front line: it was an awful hot place we had to charge near a mile and it was as bad ground as the pasture and you can have an idy how it would be and all of us with big loads on I never was mutch nearer give out in my life their was a great many gave out. We got up to the rebs skirmish pits and stopped the rebs begin to throw grape at us and we thought it would not pay to go any further As Maley says, the attack succeeded only in carrying the rifle pits 500 yards in front of the Confederate lines. Several of the company's wounded are identified (one of whom, Joseph Purnell, later died). That night word reached the Union armies that Atlanta had been surrendered to Maj. Gen. Slocum. Maley's letters often provide word of fellow soldiers, especially those known to his parents. Company K of the 84th Illinois was organized in Henderson County, as was Company G; most of the men in these units were county residents. Maley mentions more than twenty men from these two companies, most of whom were evidently familiar names to his mother and father. Written of most frequently is Sgt. James F. Fryrear of Company K, called Frank, a close acquaintance or relation of the Maleys (the 1862 letter opens with the statement that "Frank and I are well and hope you're the same). By July 1864 Fryrear was "back sick" in Chattanooga; he was subsequently sent to Quincy, Illinois, where he died on 26 September. In addition, Maley occasionally provides word of the 10th and the 16th Illinois (both attached to XIV Corps during the Atlanta campaign); each of these regiments included companies recruited in Henderson County. More common in the letters are criticisms leveled at officers. These are not indiscriminate: Col. P. Sidney Post of the 59th Illinois, briefly in command of Maley's brigade, "is good to his men and that is more than I can say of all", and most general officers are not criticized. But Maley is sensitive on the subject of privilege; "if an officer gits under the weather a little he gits clear of duty", but "if one of us poor devels git sick we have to go as long as we can and when we cant go any longer they will say that fellow is playing off he cant never git a furlow." (22 August 1864). Of the officers of Company K Maley says little, except to suggest that Captain John B. McGaw purloined some tobacco included in a letter for the absent Frank Fryrear (21 and 28 July 1864). The German captain of Company G, Frederick Garternicht (or "Gartersnaick") "can not ride home on the same train with the men after they are mustered out" (29 March 1865). Commanding the 84th Illinois throughout the war was Col. Louis H. Waters: L H Waters said that he thaught we would start home in two weeks I don't believe it he has told to many such things and they didnot come true. he said last night he wanted us to drill so we could make a good show when we got to Springfield I dont give A cuss A bout makeing A show of my self I have done enough of that dow here I dont think the boys will try much when they get there I can drill well enough. (29 May 1865). Generally speaking, Maley accepts the exercise of authority when he deems it well-intentioned or purposeful. But much, to him, appears arbitrary, especially orders relating to what he terms "pooting on stile." As he says of picket duty at IV Corps' camp near Atlanta, after the city's fall: we have to poot on lots of stile when we go on picket the orders is to walk a bout and not set down and carry our gun at a right sholdier shift.. I think that is going in steap.. when the rebs was shooting at us we could do as we wanted to.. (18 September 1864).