Dear Minerva

     I again have an opertunity of sending you a letter by Dr Sherod who leaves our Reg tomorow morning and deeming it the most certain way of getting a letter home I avail myself of it the Dr will not stop at Rockport But will put the letter off on the wharf boat
     I suppose what you most desire to know from here is how my health is and what is likely to be the destiny of this Reg With regard to the former it is as it has been for some time good With regard to the latter I doant think any man knows We seem to have seteled down here as if we were to stay for some time The indications all lead to that belief Yet in Six hours the whole division might be put in motion on a march Such are the uncertanties in the army I hardly think their will be an active campaign caried on farther South than this during the Summer months The probabilities then seem to be that we will hold this live until the hot weather is passed and then open the campaign actively (This is the conjecture among officers in the Reg

For my self I should much rather they would have stationed us at memphis if we are to remain inactive during the Summer But in this we have no choice We learn to obey orders and ask no questions and if possible make no complaints I wrote to you some three or four days ago and sent the letter by Major McGrain [i.e., Maj. Thomas J. McGrain, 53rd Indiana Infantry] who will mail it some where in Indiana Before writing it I had received your letter announcing the fact that you had finished harvesting I was very glad to hear that you had got throug with so little trouble I was glad to learn that I had a son to represent me in the field I know Scott is a manly fellow and I believe he is constitutionally industrious But tell him and the balance of the children that while I want them to form habits of industry and becom Skilled in the duties of the house or field as the case may be; that I want them on no account to neglect their Books I hope to on my return home to find them all as fare advanced as children of their age could be expected to be
     I was glad to hear your mother was spending so much time with you Couldent she make it her fixed home at least during my absence

In a former letter I made some suggestions about how I though you had better manage the business of the farm you perhapse can get a better understanding from your friends at home about what is best to be done than I can give you I have had so little time for thinking of farming business But I would suggest that if it has not been done you get some good hand to Stack the wheat If you can get Mr Puckett do so Be sure to get some person who under stands it So that the Stacks when put up woant take water When you have it once secure you can choose your time about having it thrashed If you should have it thrashed consult Mr Pullen Mason or John whether it is best to sell or not If you sell get some competent person to attend to it for you and pay them liberally for for it I would suggest however that it would be better not to sell apon a flat markett What I mean by this is not to sell at prices produced by some suden bad news or a temporary glut in the market For from such causes there is generally a reaction It may be that wheat will range low and if the parties I have named think you had better sell I would do it

I also think it would be better for you to rent out the most of the wheat land if their is much to sow What amt ought to be sown I am not able to say The Entire East side of the place is in clover and I want it to remain for pasture The clover field next to Mr Bowmans is for wheat and I think you had better only have about half of it put in If so Keep that part of it nex to the land In renting try to get good men who will do their duty and that you can furnish team to so that you will get half the crop Give Mr Puckett the first opertunity It may be best to sow some corn land if you can find renters for it it I have spoken of this in one or two letters before But you may not have got them for we generally Expect half our letter will be lost So I repeat it
It is now late at night the camp has been still for an hour. All is repose around me and I two must retire Let me hear from you often Doant worry your self about the business of the farm
    Remember me to the household and all friends

your affectionate husband
George Thomas