Scope and Contents 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...

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Barrier is in Greensboro on his way to Richmond County, North Carolina. He reports that he left the regiment some time ago and "joined the dead line" in Amherst County, Virginia. His detachment has accumulated 500 horses. Soon they will begin traveling to Richmond County; Barrier promises to write when he reaches his destination. He says he will send, by express, a pair of chickens to his mother as a gift.

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Barrier writes that the detachment arrived in Richmond County a few days ago, "with [their] dead lines." He hopes to see his father in camp, because he does not think that he'll have the time to get home before he returns to Virginia. He gives directions to his current location for his father's benefit and estimates that it is about a 50-mile journey.

Scope and Contents Barrier begins with news of "the great battle" (the battle of the Wilderness, 4-6 May), reporting great successes for the Confederacy: "We are driving them before us, with great slaughter. The like has never been seen since the war commenced. General Ewell says he never saw the like." It seems improbable, reports Barrier, that Grant will be able to move onward against Richmond. He asks his father to relay news of this success to John Moose and boasts of the prowess of Lee's army. "We have...

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Mrs. Epps, a Richmond resident and nurse at Seabrook Hospital, writes to Mathias Barrier of the death of his son, William Lafayette Barrier, at "ten minutes to eleven o'clock" on the night of 17 May 1864. He died lucid and wishing to see his parents. He'd been wounded in the fighting near Brook Church, three miles outside Richmond, on 12 May. Epps provides Mathias with her address, should he wish to learn more, and says his son will be buried at Oak Wood Cemetery.

Scope and Contents Lt. Harvey McAlister, Co. H, 8th North Carolina Infantry, writes Capt. Rufus Barrier from Camp Macon in Warren County, North Carolina, where the regiment was organized. He requests that Barrier bring a plate, knife, and fork for each man in the company, and informs him that the regiment will leave for Roanoke Island the following week. Barrier was commanding officer of Co. H., having received his commission on 16 May. Co. H and six other companies would be mustered in to state service the...

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Having recently visited his family in Cabarrus County, Barrier is returning to the regiment on Roanoke Island by way of Raleigh and Portsmouth, Virginia. He writes of his journey and of visiting friends and acquaintances in Raleigh. He closes by promising to write again before he leaves Portsmouth.

Scope and Contents Barrier reports receiving both of his father's recent letters, one by courier and one by mail. Things have been "lively," he says, sharing that there were two false alarms recently: "We had to go back to bed without a fight. I tell you there is no fun in being routed out of a warm bed to fight the yankes and then be disappointed." He stands confident in the island's fortifications against any force. He is in good health, and so is his company. He passes along Lieutenant McAlister's...

Scope and Contents Barrier and the 8th North Carolina were among the 2580 Confederate troops captured during the successful Federal assault on Roanoke Island, 8 February 1862. He was paroled on 21 February, but spent many months at home awaiting exchange. The author of this letter, Lt. Amos J. Hines, was a member of the 8th North Carolina's Co. G. Hines writes that Barrier has not written as expected: "What have you done with yourself?" Hines expresses concern for Confederate prisoners of war: "I often think...

Scope and Contents At the time of writing, Richard Barr was a surgeon attached to the 34th North Carolina Infanty. He writes to Barrier, still awaiting exchange, informing him that he has received his recent letter and expressing the desire to meet at Richmond on Barrier's return to the army. He informs Barrier that, while the Union army is close, there is little prospect of a fight. Barr recounts an appearance by Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, who was in Richmond the previous day. Camp life is...

Scope and Contents Barrier was exchanged on 15 August 1861. During the first two weeks of September the 8th North Carolina reassembled at Camp Mangum, a few miles west of Raleigh on the North Carolina Railroad. Barrier writes that he and the regiment are in good spirits and good health, though they want for something to do. Not every company has reported in, nor has Colonel Ransom yet made his appearance. Barrier tells his father that, if any men at home wish to join Co. H they had better report for duty soon,...

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In early October the regiment was ordered to Camp Campbell near Kinston. In a brief letter Barrier reports that his company will be gone from camp on picket duty, some 20 miles below Kinston. He doesn't think that they will see any fighting, "but that is uncertain." He mentions that he is in fair health.

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Though dated 2 October 1862, this letter was certainly written some three weeks after the previous one, probably on 2 November. Barrier hasn't heard from his father since last he wrote him in September. As he writes, he's just returned from twenty days on a picket post on Core Creek Bridge, 18 miles from New Bern. He saw no action. He asks after his brother and brother-in-law, and requests that his father obtain him "a negro boy" as a servant. He and his company are in good health.

Scope and Contents Barrier writes in response to a letter from his father, which he has just received after returning to camp the day previous from a "long and tedious march" toward New Bern: "I have marched about 200 miles within the last ten days." He saw some light combat with enemy forces. He believes that soon they will be ordered to march to Wilmington, North Carolina. Many among his regiment, says Barrier, are without shoes or proper clothing, but they are all committed to the war effort and complain...

Scope and Contents In late November the regiment moved to the proximity of Wilmington. Barrier writes in response to a letter received recently from his father. He confirms receipt of "all the things" his father sent him. He asks that his mother save some fabric to make his a suit, which he may need come winter, as he "cannot afford the prices they are asking for clothing in this place." He says that he is very comfortable in his tent, despite the cold and rain: "I have a nice chimney to my tent and good fire...

Scope and Contents Barrier writes to inform his family that they will have an opportunity to send him "a box of something to eat" soon: "Lieutenant McAllister started home yesterday on sick furlough for fourteen days [and] he told me that he would bring me a small box of tricks if you would take it to Concord." Barrier adds that there is another lieutenant in the regiment, a very nice man, who would like a pair of shoes made along the lines of Barrier's own: "If you get the shoes made charge them to me and let...

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Barrier writes a brief note to request a pair of boots from home and to report that all is well in the regiment, save a few minor injuries.

Scope and Contents The regiment remains in line of battle along the south side of the Neuse, having engaged the enemy at Goldsboro Bridge (17 December 1862). Barrier writes to let his father know that everyone is generally well, though he does wish that they would move back to their tents: "We have been lying here in the woods about long enough." He reports that five more men have enlisted in his company. "I think the sky begins to brighten toward peace," he says, "And I have a hope soon to return home and...

Scope and Contents The regiment is now in winter quarters at Camp Whiting. Barrier writes that he never did receive the box his father packed for him, but he did receive his boots. He confirms for his father the death of Sergeant W. M. Brown, a member of Barrier's company: "He fell a martyr to freedom battling for his country's rights." The rest of Co. H is in "tolerable" health: "My men have all been vaccinated; some of them have pretty sore arms." He reports that there is "great military movement on hand in...

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Barrier tells his father that their brigade left Wilmington for Charleston on 16 February: "We are stationed near James Island in the woods without any tents or baggage of any kind. I have found S.C. a hard place just as I expected to find it before I arrived here." He asks that his mother send "two colored shirts" with one of the men currently back at home at the earliest opportunity and closes by giving his love to friends and family.

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Barrier requests that his father send him his brother's valise, as his own chest is too large to be easily handled when he is on the move. He reports that he'll be sending his own chest back via express with "a number of things belonging to different persons," all marked for their intended recipients, and requests once more the two shirts he mentioned in his previous letter.

Scope and Contents Barrier thanks his mother and father profusely for the boxes of provisions they sent along, saying that they were quickly devoured, and much appreciated, by himself and his company. "I suppose you have heared," he writes, "All the particularrs of the fight at Fort Sumter and I think it useless for me to attempt to give you a description of the battle." Barrier asks his father what he thinks the prospects for peace are, and announces that he still believes the war will be over and he'll be...

Scope and Contents Barrier continues to have bad things to say about the conditions in South Carolina: "We get nothing to eat but beef and corn bread. The beef is so poor that they have to kill it to save its life. Some of it actually stinks before it gets dry from the slaughter pen. We have to drink most miserable water full of myriad insects and vermin. When we boil it to make coffee we have to skim it or strain it before it is fit for use. The whole air is thickened with myraids of sand flies, mosquitoes,...

Scope and Contents Barrier has learned that his father has apparently not received the last several letters Barrier sent him; he writes that, contrary to the rumors his father has heard, his health is fine. He is, however, in want of some good food, and requests that his family make arrangements to send flour his way so that he might make biscuits: "I have not tasted a biscuit in six weeks and have been living on the roughest corn meal you ever saw. I never had such meal for my horses to eat as we have to live...

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Barrier begins by sharing that his health is very good. He sends along with his letter a carpet bag of "old shirts and things" and asks that his mother take good care of his coat, for he expects that he'll need it again next winter.

Scope and Contents Barrier says he hasn't received a response to his most recent letters and then describes an "attack that was made on [his] batteries last Wednesday." Though the enemy's bombardment was fierce, it was also brief, and at the end of the battle, the Confederate forces had managed to sink the Union ironclad Keokuk. (This was the First Battle of Charleston Harbor, 7 April 1863). Barrier concludes by asking after his livestock, assuring his father of his and his company's good health, and wishing...

Scope and Contents Barrier writes that they are due that day for a grand review of the troops stationed on James Island. The review is to be conducted by Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard (than commanding the Confederacy's coastal defenses). Barrier himself is bedridden with the flux and won't be able to attend. The weather, he reports, is oppressively hot. He's heard of "excitement" in the directions of Washington, North Carolina, and Suffolk, Virginia and also in Tennessee: "Troops are leaving here every day to...

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Barrier sends a photograph of his Lt. Colonel, "a most worthy gentleman and a magnificent officer." His unit is in good health.

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Barrier reports the "glorious intelligence" that the regiment is to move to Wilmington, North Carolina the following morning. He is likewise pleased at his father's report that the crops are coming in well, and that "my boys are getting along so well with my farm." He also goes on at some length about "the affair with Heilig and Lentz," who appear to hold him responsible for an article (of uncertain content) that appeared in the Raleigh newspaper Spirit of the Age.

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Barrier and his regiment are only recently arrived in Wilmington. He received his boxes in camp the previous evening. All are in good health. The camp is in an oak grove about four miles from the ocean: "I think it is more pleasant here than it is at home." Since the regiment's colonel is away, detailed for a court martial, the lieutenant colonel is in command. Barrier believes they will remain in camp for the rest of the summer. They can see the Union blockades off the coast.