Barrier and his regiment are only recently arrived in Wilmington. He received his boxes in camp the previous evening. All are in good health. The camp is in an oak grove about four miles from the ocean: "I think it is more pleasant here than it is at home." Since the regiment's colonel is away, detailed for a court martial, the lieutenant colonel is in command. Barrier believes they will remain in camp for the rest of the summer. They can see the Union blockades off the coast.