John believes that there has been confusion with the mail following the battle at Fort Hind and he's worried that many of his letters have been stopped en route.

He mentions many soldiers who have died and writes that only about twenty-five of the men in his company are fit for duty. There were a hundred men in his company when they started and now there are only sixty-four left.

They have been eating soft bread for a week with plenty of salted meat and they receive fresh beef once a week as well as bacon.

He mentions his old friends at home and asks his parents to send his regards to them.