Barrier writes from the field hospital, where his health is "slowly improving." It has been, he reports, a day of hard fighting, with the Confederate forces repeatedly repulsing Union assaults with "great slaughter." On the day he writes the whole brigade is being held in reserve. Reports of the missing from his regiment are slow to trickle in; Barrier will pass along a list of the casualties when it is complete. "Since the 20th of April," says Barrier, "We have lost 21 officers, killed, wounded, and missing. We have lost men in proportion." He mentions that he has "just parted" with his cousin, Caleb Barrier, who seems to be doing well. Caleb is trying to send William's things along to Rufus, who says that he is making a special effort to get his brother's horse and pistol.