Camp Marion Virginia
December 26th, 1861

Dear Becca, Mother Sister & Brother

To one and all This morning finds me quite unwell though I hope there is nothing seriously the matter with me. I think I would soon get well if I had anything fitten for a sick person to eat But I have no appetite for such things as we have in camp.

Bob is in fine health & in good spirits And seems to be as well contented as if he was at home And he can stand a soldier's life much better than I can myself [Cousin sent a shirt she knit herself Such a shirt would] sell for 3 or four dollars in the army.

I think if this Brigade cant get into a fight soon the men will commence killing each other. There was a couple of soldiers fell out this morning one drew his knife the other picked up a tentpole struck him across the Back of the head the blood gushed our of his mouth and ears. I dont think he will be alive till night & this is not all There is a fight with some one after Every day

Mr. G.W. Davis has come & I must stop writing till I go and hear the news if he has any

I am in bad condition for writing as I have taken a very large dose of Quinine & my head is much affected by it. I recd the letter Tom sent by A.B. Smith date Dec the 16th. It came to hand on the 20th Which gave me great satisfaction to hear that you was all in good health I was also well pleased with the weight of the hogs the 7 that Smith bought. I want to know what those seven pigs weighed. I I want you to write how my little grey Horse is growing. I want him fat when I come home so I can take a ride & if I am forced to remain in the army after my time is out I want to do my fighting on Horseback and Lager is the Horse I Expect to wade into the yankees on if he is large enough.

Yesterday was Christmas But it did not appear much like Christmas to me I am sorry to say that another of our men died yesterday a man that has performed as much duty as any man in the Regt it was Elijah Harris He was taken down on Monday & lived til Wednesday. I loaned Sheff Robins some money and instead of putting the money to the use he said he was going to He took it & went home. He wanted the money to buy something for Hiram to eat.

Tom Sheff holds a note on me he sent it home I want you to watch & see if they sell the note to any person & if they do Let me know who they sell it to

I think we will go toward Romley in a few days But I cant tell when we will start I want you all to take good care of Alice & keep her our of the wet & cold

Give Denison & family my Best Respects I want you all to write often I still Live in hopes of seeing you all again in this life But if I am deprived of that privalidge I hope to meet you all in a better world than this I ask an interest in the prayers of all the Righteous that we may all Live to Return So nothing more But still Remains your most sinceere Friend

Respectfully Yours
James H. Barrett

Dear Mother
I call myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at the present hoping that when these lines come to hand they may find you enjoying the same health

I am sorry to hear that you havent recieved but one letter from me yet for I have wrote more than one well Cat I dont want you to think that I have forgot you for I have not its true that I dont write much for I am So no count to write that I am all but a shame to try I can let you know that I am well and doing as well as cound be expected at this time I has nothing of importance to write to you

Well Ned as you are wanting to see me it will not take five months long to XXXXXX and then I will come home if I am alive I want you to take good care of my horse and make fat this winter So I can wride about and see my friends when I come home I want you all to write me as soon as you can. And there is something I forgot and must tell you Cosin Sarah T. Hurt knit a large cumfort and sent it to me as a present to me I must bring my letter to a close So nothing more at present

R.M. Barrett
to Cynthia Barrett