The collection consists of a letter from Henry Close to Oliver P. and Hannah Bennett on the 31st of January, 1864. Close writes of his recent illness (typhoid) and the lack of good wages for work. He also complains about Lincoln and the Civil War, shares some local war news, and describes his desire to avoid military service. Close says that "this is a damned licoln War and any body that Will fight for Lincoln is not better than a damed black abolishinish."