Is very concerned with the fact that his wife has been ill; seeks his wife's advice in many matters; while there is an abundance of clothing, the scarcity of shoes is an extreme problem; unless he receives a furlough, is determined to leave the service; continued improvments in camp are carried out; is quite critical of certain commanders; describes religious activites in camp; relays news of his tobacco crop and its going rate; still eager to sell some of his land and pay off his debt; gives details concerning their literary club; discusses, in detail, their execution of firing drills; mentions the Seven Pines; is coping with the bad weather rather well, unlike the negroes in camp; complains about provisions of beef, pork, and lack of butter and sugar; postage is getting high; frequent resignations of generals are taking place; Pickett's division is moving from Richmond to Charleston, South Carolina; signs of peace are becoming more apparent; there are wide-spread rumors of disaffection in the Northwest; gives advice concerning farm and crop trip are given; refers to his stopping at the Wolf Trap depot; (?) in his part of the army; refers to the Southern Literacy Messenger and claims it is a very good paper; Yankees have crossed at Fredricksburg, Virginia and there is a threatened advance being made by Burnside [?]; troops in Richmond and Petersburg are being moved to aid Gen[eral] Lee; there is also action taking place on the James River.