At the time of writing, Barrier's brigade was guarding Kelly's Ford on the Rapidan River. Barrier acknowledges the receipt of the clothing he'd requested in his previous letter. He wishes his family could visit him at camp for Christmas. He likewise wishes he could report that all the soldiers were as comfortably clothed as he, but acknowledges that many of his fellows are barefoot and without good clothes. With respect to the war, he says that, a few weeks ago, General Hampton went out with about 300 men, 50 from the 1st North Carolina Cavalry, to scout: "They were gone three days and returned with about 90 prisoners and 100 horses." This was but the first of a series of similarly successful raids, which supplied the Confederate Army with badly need horses, supplies, and food, as well as capturing 200 to 300 prisoners. "All of this was done without the loss of a single man," says Barrier. Men from his company participated in some of these raids, too. Barrier assumes his father has heard news of the recent victory at Fredericksburg. He says he hasn't heard anything from his brother Rufus since Rufus "went to Wilmington." Barrier reports receiving a vaccination: "I was a little unwell from its effects for several days." In a postscript he says he has finally received the backpay owed him since October.