Dear husband

It was quite a relief to get your letter By Mr Richardson he was kind enough to send It out the next morning I am glad to hear you are Becoming so accustomed to the hardships of Camp life with out making you sick I was not satisfied with the letter so I visited them the next day to get the Particulars about your living he says you all have a hard life any way it can Be fixed I am sory you have such a reched cook for your living Is rough enough when It Is well cooked the children has Just come In from gathering some Strawberies Bell [i.e., Belle Thomas (b. c1854), the author's daughter] Brought In some very nice ones & says I wish Pa was here to eat them your litle fat girl has not forgoten you yet Mr Scamahorn [i.e., Jacob Scammahorn] towk dinner with us & when he left she cried to go with him She thought It was you she got out side of the gate 2 or 3 times to follow him She finaly cried her self to sleep
the Baby does not grow very fast But It can laugh at the children when they come round to play with it Bell & Scott Is very attentive to their Books Flora is still at her uncle Johns he was here yesterday & says they have all had an opportunity of getting the measles at school & some of theires has taken them already & If she gets them I will leave her there until she gets well for it would not do to bring her home it would be bad Business for John to get them in such a Busy time & help so scarce

you seem to Bee uneasy a Bout the harvesting I have talked with Mr Pullen [i.e., John Pullen] a bo concerning our harvesting he thinks he can get help for us Bowth By helping others with the harvester Mr Busby wishes to assist I with his men to have him Bring the mashine there & there are others wishing to help in the same way George Sheeds [i.e., George W. Sheed] thinks he can help & says he thinks he can engage some help In town they are coming out In the morning to finish up those 2 rooms & then I Judge the work will Be suspended until the summers work Is over for Pucket has a bout 1500 Potatoes hills a patch of coton Shugar Cane melons & many other rations which will consume all his time from now until the summers work is over as company prevented me from finishing your letter yester day this Is now Monday In the afternoon Fred & John went In to the orchard this morning to mowing the clover I never saw a finer looking piece of clover there has Been no worms or pests of any kind yet to Destroy the crops yet the corn come up very badly they finished harrowing & replanting the clover field last saturday & the other Is not entirely up yet I will get Mrs Vandishire to help So as to give them time to save the hay while the weather is good She is always willing to work for me & keeps up with Fred at any thing she goes at & then I can let her have what provisions she needs John Thomas says If you Should fail to get mony to me before harvest he thinks he can

Furnish me with enough to pay the expenses during harvest & If he cannot I think I can get some from Jefferson But I fear you have already felt the need of mony your self I sent you up 5 Pair of socks & three nice Pocket handkerchiefs By hue Barnett & a letter with them But you say nothing a bout getting them there was several of us Joined & filled 2 large goods Boxes of with Provisions and other articles necessary for our sick & wounded soldiers & If you ever get them you will find enclosed In one of those large Boxes a small one with something nice for your self & Jh Richardson to eat we sent out a box of chickens there was a box one Box & one coop of chickens shiped from an Enterprise on the same Boat they were to be Placed under the care of quint Barnett [i.e., Sgt. Philip Q. Barnett, Co. F, 58th Indiana Infantry] as he was going out to Join his regiment
I went with them thoug the rain to attend to the marking of them so there would Bee no fault of mine a Bout their geting there they were all marked to you & to Pitsburg Landing But I hope you have got them By this time for I would Be very sory If you should miss getting them & If they should be lost It would not Be useless to attempt making up any thing of the kind a gain for you Hire um writes home that they are having plenty to eat now as they have Been having on half enough to eat a great part of the time since he left he was at Jacksonport near J Richardsons one of his daughters was there vis visiting a few days Before our troops

marched In & took the place hanes Etten died of consumption 6 months after leaving here Thomas Is In Batesville practicing Van meter is in the Rebel army Mrs Boyds house took fire last friday In the after noon & was Burned to ashes they saved the one fernanda lived In they lost the most of their Provisions & many other things I suppose you will think my letter a little tedious and as I have given you all the news I will close as It Is super time but you never Speak as If you even expected to visit us It gives me many sad hours to mourn the loss & abscence of such a dear & kind husband as you are
you seem to Bee an honor to your office as well as your family & perhapse as much needed so trust In you In the care of the lord & that you may also serve him In a time of trouble & desolation so fare well dearest

your affectionate wife Minerva Thomas

Mr George Thomas

you will pleas hand this encosed leter to Mr vandeshire