Thomas' health, Sons in Cherokee War, Catherine Halsey Gleaves, the Ramsey Children

To Elizabeth Gleaves
Wythe County
Virginia

Stewarts Ferry Ten
24 May

State of Tennessee Davidson County May 13th 1838

Dear Mother
After a long affliction I take up my pen to inform you that I am on foot once more I was taken the 10th of December with a swelling in my leg occationed by the Cramp for I am very subject to that complaint I was confined to my bed five weeks and a half I lay on my back for I Could not be any other way my Pane was so severe Seven weeks elapsed before I was able to walk a step I was confined to my room until the last of march I keep my leg wrapt from my toes to my knee I can pay(?) through my farm and ride to town but rideing causes my leg to swell it was all we could do to keep my ancle from mortification I am yet very weak in my right hip mother I must tell you something very extraordinary about the 18th of March I was taken with the whoopingcough ____(page torn) tough time you may expect I a nearly ____(page torn) with my heard last the rest of my family one and all well at present my sons have all returned from Down the river in good health they ____(page torn) volunteered and gone to the Cherokee nation with the army to drive the indians of(f) as they have refused to move according to the treaty Robert Hill Volunteered and was elected as their Capt Caty Gleaves and family are well and getting along as well as we can expect a Widow to do James and the two black boys attend to the farm Mr Halsey lives in the neighborhood

I must say something about Betty Ramseys family John lives at Triggs store Emeline lives with him Wm Ramsey is learning the Shoe and Boat (Boot?)making trade George is learing the Sadler trade Allen Ramsey is learning the cabinet business Jane Ramsey is married to Annanias Stamps a blacksmith the(y) all live within the bounds of my neighborhood the children have all steadied them selves to business Polly ann lives with June Mather I want you to wright to me and let me know how your health is tell James and Nancy to wright for I long to hear from them Wright me something about Andrew Porter I want to know how him and family is dowing Also Henry Eller and George Ewing an any of my old acquaintances I don't know that ever I sha____(page torn) out of mother (could be mathers) Spring again except I get well again if do I think I will come once more to see Cripplecreek I have nothing more to communicate until my sons return I will then wright again I have not used any spectacles for several years past my rite eye begins to _____ a little
No more at present but remains your Dutifull Son till Death
                                              Thomas Gleaves