Feby March 2nd 1863
                    
                Dear Wife I again take
my pen in hand to inform you
of our health  I am well & I think
Ben has improved some  he  has been
up in town 3 times with  me  It
is about as far as from our house
to the old mill dam  His bowell complaint
is a great dale better   he was up                                
not less than 20 times in 24 hours ^{when I found him}
and for the last week he has not
had more than from 2 to 3 motions in 24
hours..  He eat sow belly & beans more
in one day than you ever seen him in
two when he was well & drank gallons
of water every day  I had a hard
time taking the fever off of him
but have suck Seeded   I have
to humor him Some  Some times
he is quite contrary  He had fever
2 evenings about 10 days

we have had no letter from home
since I left home   if you Right
to me direct to Ben & direct it
to Lagrange hospittle No. 2 
Tennessee   I think though we
will be home before this could
get home & another back.
   Just do what you think
   best on the farm & I will
   get home as soon as I can.  
   I want care taken of them
   mares about foalding time  Keep
   them out of the stable & secure
   from hogs ----------------------
     Sowe oats as soon as
   the wether will permit

                 I will add no more
             yours respectfully
   (signed)  J. W. Smith to  
          Margaret Smith