Barrier finds himself once again stricken with dysentery, but he remains in the trenches, discharging his duties: "I have been suffering with diarrhea and dysentery for three months and a half [and] I have not missed but four days duty in the present campaign, which commenced the twelfth of last April." He writes about the results of the recent political races in North Carolina, sad that his preferred candidates didn't win other offices but still pleased that Zebulon Vance defeated William Woods Holden in the governor's race: "I am glad that Holden is politically dead and it would be better for the country if he were really dead in body." Barrier believs that "the grand army of the Potomac" has withdrawn from their front, as all has been quiet for the last several days: "I think Butler's army is all we have to contend with for the present." "The larger portion of our army has gone," he writes, "to Northern Virginia. We will have some stirring news from that quarter in a few days." He visited the 1st North Carolina Cavalry and saw that many of his friends and acquaintances in the regiment were doing well, though the horses are suffering from lack of adequate forage. In his own regiment, he reports, they are likely to run into problems regarding field promotions again: "There is no longer any doubt about the death of Colonel Murchison. I do not wish any furher promotion but the General says I must go up to the Lt. Colonelcy so that will create a new Major in the regiment. Our two senior Captains are expecting to be laid on the shelf again and I suppose they will be, but it is sure to create a squall. But I am glad I am out of the scrape this time. I will let you know when it is over." He closes with a reminder that his slave is likely to reach Mt. Pleasant soon and reiterates instructions from previous letters concerning his requests for a horse and resupply.