This collection consists of a single letter attributed to Rufus P. Staniels, captain in the 13th New Hampshire Infantry during the American Civil War. Written to "My Darling Selina" from a camp opposite Fredericksburg, Virginia, the letter is dated January 5, 1863 and was written over the course of a week. After briefly discussing news of family and friends, Staniels describes at length the recent grand review of Sumner's Division by General Burnside, commenting on the service of the regiments participating and providing his impression of Burnside's appearance. Staniels thanks Selina for the newspapers recently received and compares the Fredericksburg battlefield illustration in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper to that in Harper's Weekly. He notes the post-battle condition of local houses and complains of the lack of religious services in camp: "[O]ur Chaplain makes no great exertion ... he does not go around among the soldiers at all ... I have not seen him in our company [street?] three times since we have been out here."