Letter written by Captain John Burgess Johnson to his family while camped near Yorktown, Virginia. Letter is postmarked January 19. The letter details a march made by the 6th U.S. Colored troops from Glouchester Point to relieve Union calvary troops near the Chickahominy River.

The letter is addressed to "Homefolks," and provides details of the march and describes a skirmish between the 6th CT Infantry, the calvary they came to assist and rebel scouts. The letter gives details about injuries sustained by both sides and rebel prisoners that were taken by the Union calvary. Johnson then describes the march back to Yorktown. Throughout the letter Johnson complains of foot pain as a result of the march; describing his feet as "swollen" and "just like beef" and tells of stopping during the march both on the the way to relieve the calvary and on the way back. Both times he describes sitting and watching the rest of his troops march by so that he could be picked up by the ambulance and ride the rest of the way to camp.

The original envelope is torn and is addressed to Thomas Barrows. The envelope bears a Washington, DC postmark with the date January 19.