Barrier writes to assure his parents that he is still alive and recovering. He hopes to be cured soon. Everything is quiet except for occasional shelling: "Were it not for that you should hardly know that you were in the presence of two large contending armies." The rain is turning the roads to mud and that might mean that the armies will have to dig in for the winter. His brigade is recruiting: "We are stronger now than we were before the Fort Harrison fight. The whole army is filling at a rapid rate." He thinks the enemy's effort to capture Richmond will cease for the winter. He asks his father to ready his heavier coat and pants and send them to him, and provides his address.