First half of letter written to his sister from Camp Pierpont. Reports that The Burnside [General Ambrose Burnside] Expedition is "somewhere down South now." Communicates to her his opinion that "you better hunt of husband than a situation as a School Teacher." Refers to a previous camp of his as "Camp Starvation." The second half of the letter is written to his father, thanking him for looking into "Spiritous Liquers" for him. He professes that "not one cent of mine" has been used to buy any. Confesses that he has had some to drink a few times, noting that once it was because there was water in his tent, "blankets soaking and being it was offered to me, I took into consideration all these things and took a smile." Informs him that "I hear their is a flag of truce. Came in to Gen. [Irvin] McDowells lines from Manassus yesterday. But what is contained is not known yet." Also indicates that he does not think Great Britain is going to "interfere" in the war, and that "Russia has ordered the European Powers to remain neutral in this affair."