March the 10^th 1863
        Lagrange, Tennessee
                Dear wife  I again take
my pen in hand to inform you
that I am well hoping these few
lines may find you all well 
Ben’s health is improving Slowly   he
is verry weak  he has not gained any
strength since I came all though
I think his condition mutch better  
when I came he had the diarea
so bad that he had at least 20 operations
in 24 hours now from one to three  
when I first came he was laboring
under a low form of Tipoid &
newmony feever   now I think he is
clain of that all though he has
unregular chills but light and
followed by a light feever and night
swets that Keeps him from gaining
strength    my impresion is that his
liver is some afected that causes
the chills feever and night swets.

They are going to furlowing sick before
long & if I cannot get him discharged
I will next try a furlow   it is anuff
to disgust Old Sattin to see how things
is managed here in this army   old man
Rollings is hear he is or has been a  great war man
and he says he is satisfyed with what he
has seen that the thing is all for the  money
and negro a white man hear is not near
as good as a negro if I ever get home
I can tell you all about it –
There is quite a moove among the troops  
they are either going to Merfersborough
or to Vicksburg   I think they will have
a fight some where before this comes
to hand   they are skirmishing evry
few days not more than ten or 15
miles from here Right soon to
Lagrange, Tenn.Hospittle No.2--
I do not no what to do about getting clover
seed and having that field below the Race
sowed   it may be to late when I get home
but I am hear & things at home will have to
work there own way for a spell
Yours respectfully   J.W. Smith to Margaret Smith