Dear Minerva

     I wrote to you the 2nd morning after you left by Mr Hyland I also sent your umbrella In that letter I informed you that I had not been so well as when you left But I then felt better Since that time however I have been quite unwell I was compelled to go to takeing medicine I am now slowly improving I was well takencare of all the time Dr Slaughter and myself took a ride of about two miles in the country to see if it wouldent improve our health It was the 1st time I had been out of camp since you left I hope soon to regain my usual health
     I rec^d a letter from Jane last night She in formed me of mr Pucketts Enlistment [i.e., Pvt. John Puckett, Co. D, 65th Indiana Infantry] And also that a difficulty had taken place between Fred and John and that Fred had quit work &c This disaranges Everything under thes circumstances I am not able to say what is best to be done I should be glad I could be at home for one week But this canot be

It is impossible to tell who will be left and after the volunteering is over there may be a draft that will still take others If there is any possible chance I want as much wheat ground rented out as you can get good renters for you to furnish the teams and plough &c I hardly suppose that George Bowman could be induced to move onto the place if he could he would be a very good man to get and I think it might be mad to his interest to do so In any Event get an industrious and sober man Jane says that Mr Leads is to attend to Mr Puckets business I think he has a farm himself about Gentyville so that I doant suppose he would want to come on to the place If he should I think he would be a very good man I should like for as much wheat to go in as possible for I am of the opinion that there will be but a small crop put in this season It may be that it would be better to put the present crop into the garners But about all these thing consult your friends around home If you should think it best to put up present crop of wheat you had better have it Examined often to see that no weavel gets in it
     I think you had better have the yard fence finished up and at least so much of the house as

will make it secure and save it from damage I suppose Mr Puckett has mad some arangement probably But at any rate have that much done Put in as much produce as possible in payment for the work If you can pay the largest part of the work in produce (and I always recov wheat as cash so doant pay it only as cash) I think you had better go on and have it finished
I hold a mortgage on Mr Pucketts land to secure the payment of his indebtedness I thought you had better be aquainted with these facts
     I am now weried or I would write more I will write soon again Write often

Your affectionate husband
George Thomas