The collection contains two letters written by brothers and Confederate soldiers Greer and Emilius Baughman. The letters were written April 5, 1862, by Greer and July 26, 1863, by Emilius. Both letters were written to their mother, Mary Jane Greer Baughman, at home in Richmond.

The April 5, 1862, letter contains a description of the Battle of Kernstown, Virginia fought March 23, 1862. This battle was a Confederate defeat and the first battle in Stonewall Jackson's famous 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign. The letter also contains descriptions of skirmishing around Edinburg, Virginia, between Turner Ashby's Confederate cavalry and Union forces. The letter of July 26, 1863, written by Emilius, described the retreat of the Army of Northern Virginia after the Battle of Gettysburg, particularly the experiences during the retreat of Emilius' unit, the Hampden (VA) Artillery.