Barrier writes that he is now on detached duty in Amherst County, Virginia, "recruiting" horses for the army. His own horse looks to be in poor health, but Barrier has been assured that she is mending. In the meantime, he's gotten a new horse. He thinks that soon he will probably send both home and retrieve his horse Hector from North Carolina. He includes $75 with his letter, $35 of which is for his mother (the amount received for his sack coat, which he has sold). The rest is to be used against his debts.