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Monterey High land County, Va July 22nd 1861
Dear Brother & sister

I take the present opportunity of writeing you a few lines to let you know that we are in as good health as could be expected under the present circumstance Hopeing these lines may find you both enjoying the same blessing I rec'd a few lines from you yesterday in a letter from T.J. Barrett & day before yesterday me & Bob rec'd a pair of socks a peice in our uniforms which pleased us very much we thank you sister for your kindness toward us for if any poor creatures ever needed any thing we need them now as we have just made a long and tiresome retreat from the yankees and we lost every thing we had nearby. We were attacked by the yankees at Laurel Hill on the 6th of this month we fought them for four days But with little damage on ether side in the four days we lost 2 men the loss of the yankees is supposed by some to be 200 but from all I could see and learn I dont believe there was more than 100 killed and several taken as prisners we fought them from sunday morning till thursday eavning when learned that the yankees had advanced on our Rich Mountains Boys who were stationed 10 miles from us we heard that they had killed and taken them all then it was we began to see that we was almost surrounded on every side and nothing could save us but a speedy retreat

Our company was put on guard between the two armies when we learned our condition we was ordered in By the General it was then almost dark and the rain pouring down upon us we struck out and were soon at camp we commenced bundling up our plunder but saw there was no use as there was sick men enough to fill our wagons without plunder so we soon let out at double quick time we traveled on till next morning and was getting along towards Beverly all at once we found the road was blockaded and we could not go that way so we wheeled about and took another road kept that a few miles hearing the yankees was on that road before us we took a little road through the mountains some before makeing road so we could bget along and some behind to blockade the road so the yankees could not rush on us with their cavalry and cannon we traveled on till saturday morning we stoped to parch some corn to eat we was then on Cheat River As soon as we got our breath a little we started we got down to the ford when we was attacked by 8. 000 yankees A georgia Rigiment and Col Toliverr being in the rear had the fight princible to themselves there was one of the Bloody times our sutherners got their suthern blood raised to think that we was tring to get our of their way they following us up to try to kill us or take us our fellows pitched in to them with a vengence in this fight we lost our General his name was Garnett he was a bold and Brave looking man He was shot dead while ordering a retreat he was shot below the eye which killed instantly

The battle was fought in the River and close to the bank our fellows tumbled the yankees in to the River and in the Road and whare ever they stood our fellws let down on them with musket Balls and Grape shot they killed them by scores McClellan was the name of the Northern General who was fighting us Gen McClellan and Gen Garnett was school boys together they fought together in the war of Mexico when McClellan found the dead body of Gen Farnett it is said he wept like a child he took his body and sent it to the citty of Washington We never learned much a bout the fight at Cheat River till we reched this place We learned that the loss on the side of the yankees was 11,00 killed besides the wounded the loss on our side was 14 men killed some 5 or 6 taken seven companies of the Georgia Rigiment was cut of but they have most all come up I also heard from the fight at Rich Mountain the loss of the yankees was 300 killed the loss of our men was 40 killed 700 taken though they have all been released by takeing an oath not to bear arms against the united states again we traveled eight days & nights in our retreat 4 days & nights of that time with nothing to eat only parched corn and cow meat and that with out bread or salt I used to think I saw hard times but I did not but now I know I see hard times not this thing of sleeping on the ground in the rain and faceing the Sharps Riffle and the many musket and Big cannon is more danger than fun I hope the time will soon come when peace will be made when we can all return to our friends again I would be glad to see you all but I fear we will have hard fighting to do before peace can be had I hear yesterday that you had another company made up in Newgarden I was sorry to hear that Tom had Vollunteered I dont believe he can ever stand the Life of a soldier I would have felt better satisfied if he has stayed at home the yankees have threatened to go to Staunton in less than ten days they are stationed about 15 miles from us there is said to be 25000 comeing on I can not tell the result I want you all to write to me soon nothing cheers me more than to recive letters from friends tell all my friends to write to me let me know all the news that is going Give my respects to Aunt Celia & all the family also give my respects to W.J. Fletcher & family tell Mago I would like to see him tell him I am living but a hard life though I am standing well if any body had told me I could have went through what I have I would not believe them tell her to write to me V James to go I must bring my lines to a close so nothing more but remains your most affectionat Brother untill death
J.H. Barrett

to L.D. Fletcher
M.M. Fletcher

Direct your letters care Col. S.V. Fulkerson J.H. Barrett Staunton Va