Barrier writes his father after spending eight days on Morris Island in Charleston Harbor, where the regiment was sent to assist in the defense of the city: "Since I last wrote you we have been through peril and hardships such as can scarcely be found on record." He describes Morris Island, and the men's constant exposure to the fire of the Union Navy. "I can't describe the bombardment to you only in this way just imagine your self in a piece of woods in a thunder storm and the lightning striking every tree around you. Such thundering and crashing and flying of sand you cannot imagine, but with all the terror and fury our regiment lost but two killed and 12 wounded. We have been very fortunate."