Dear Minerva

     I wrote to you on the 25th ins^t But for want of mail facilitties did not get my letter of Joseph C Richardson will leave to night for home and this letter will be brought by him When I wrote I was just getting over a little spell of sickness Today I feel perfectly well and think I will now Enjoy good health My only fear is that the water woant agree with me In my first letter I informed you that Capt Townsend had failed to get my horse to me and had shiped him back from St Louis to Richardson & Britton If you have had no word from him yet take such steps as may be necessary to know whether he is there or not at once It may be necessary to send John to Evansville If so do it at once I want you to be certain to write by Mr Richardson and if it is possible to let me know any thing about the horse

whether he has got home or whether he is at Evansville or whether you have heard from him or not I doant want him started again if he get home keep him I send by Mr Richardson a suit of old clothes We are not permited to wear Citizen dress in the Army I want you to send my thin Boots Tell Flora [i.e., Flora Thomas (b. c1852), the author's daughter] if she will clean and black them I will owe her for it when I come home
     I am inhopes that John and Fred & Mr Puck [sp. Puckett] will get along well in their Farming operations Tell them to try to so manage as to be well prepareded for Harvest I doant doubt they will do this
     I find my place a very busy one and a very responsible one And now in addition to the duties of a Reg mental Quarter master I will have for a time to act as Quartermaster of the Post
     We are Expecting a big fight above here soon but our military men take their time for all their moves and we can tell but little more about what is intended than you who are so

away But this much is certain our Generals are concentrating a very large force a few miles above this place And it is my opinion it will be but a few days until Gen Grant will be in a condition to make a forward movement
     The weather for the last four days has been most delightfull Today it is almost like summer It is having a very happy Effect apon the health of Our men I feel in hopes that we will have but few new caces of sickness I have not time to write longer This has been dashed of in a hurry
     Write often and direct to my address in the 53rd Reg Ind Vols. Be sure to write by Richardson and he may not stay but 1 day at home Doant forget the childrens lessons. Remember me to them and Jane and all my friends

Your affectionate husband
George Thomas

P.S. I was inhopse I would have been paid off before this time so that I could have sent some money home for you and to pay some little debts

owe around home Should there be any impatience with any one tell them as soon a I make a a draw I will send home by the 1st opertunity Enough to pay all I ow I think there is a little bill at Dr Morgans [i.e., Oliver O. Morgan] for Paints that I Expected to have paid before this time if you meet with him please Explain it to him

George Thomas