Camp Bartow, Greenbrier River, Pocahontas Co., Va,
August 30th, 1861

Mrs. Cynthia A. Barrett & Family

Dear Mother: I avail myself of the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to inform you that we read your kind letter, dated Aug. 18th, which gave great satisfaction to hear that you were all well. Your letter found us in fine health. I believe in better health and more fleshy than you ever saw us. I hope these lines may find you all well and doing well, which I suppose you are under present circumstances.
You wrote that you had all the gran and grass hauled in, which is a fine thing owing to wet weather.
We left Monterey on the 14th of this month and marched to the top of Alleghany Mountain. We left the Alleghany on the 17th and came to this place. We are stationed ten miled from the Northern Troops, which are stationed on Cheat Mt. Whenever I hear the name of Cheat Mountain it makes me feel very serious. Well do I recollect on the 13th day of July, of crossing Cheat River, wading it, when its waters were stained with human blood. It being so stained that the water resembled red wine. At that time and place about seven hundred men were slain. But fortunately only 18 or 20 of our Southern men were killed. I endured more in that retreat than I ever expected that I could possibly endure. It was a providential thing that we ever excaped. Since I have become well rested, I have enjoyed better health than I ever did in my life, though there is a great deal of sickness in our Co. and five deaths. The names of those that have died are Hawkins, Thompson, Draten Smith, Winchester Farmer, John E. Gilmer and Paris Horten. C.C. Fletcher is very low. I think his recovery is doubtful. We have 80 in our company and 40 of that number is unfit for service. Our Company has come to be under par. The Col. says it will have to be recruited. The recruits will have to come from Russell. There will be a chance for 17 men to join this company if they choose.
We have visited the Yankees once since we have been at this place. As soon as we got in sight of them they saluted us very politely with a shower of musket balls. We wanted to act manly with them so we returned the compliment. There was no lives lost, though there were a great many shots exchanged between the two parties. I cannot tell when there will be another attack made but I suppose there will be a general rush made on the Northern troops in N. Western Va., I think we can whip them this time, for instead of fighting 6 to 1 as we did at Laurel Hill, I think we have as many men in S. West as they have. Don't understand that we run the main Army when we visited the Yankees. It was their scots and pickets we run. We pursued them until we run them into camp. They lost their blankets, coats, hats, and cartridges, as we done when we left Laurel Hill. You cannot imagine the influence of burning powder, I mean the smell of it, will have on men whenever the powder begins to smell and bullets whizz. Our regiment could hardly be kept in line. Some of them wanted to break ranks and rush upon the enemy.
Tell Cat I wish I was at home to get some good apples and good pie to eat. For our fare is very rough here. We are almost dead for some good cheese and honey. I hope we will be permitted to step over and have dinner with you according to your request. From your son,
and brother J.H. Barrett.