Barrier requests that his family return the military coat he'd sent home some time ago; the coat he has is too small and he traded it for some cloth to make a new coat. All is quiet at camp, but preparations are being made for the resumption of campaigning once the weather clears and maneuvers are again possible. Barrier believes that the next great battle will take place before Richmond. General Beauregard is to resume command of Barrier's regiment and the rest of the "department of N. Carolina which includes the portions of Virginia south of the James River." Barrier recounts his attendance at an inspiring sermon in the city: "I never saw an audience so perfectly carried away with a sermon all my life. Such perfect attentions that not an individual stirred from his or her seat for the three hours. At times during the sermon you could have heard a pin drop." He includes with his letter a present for his mother.