Here is the last letter written to his father by Private Sumter Rowland, Co. C, 3rd Arkansas Infantry, who was killed in action while serving in the Army of Northern Virginia --

Richmond, Va. Aug. 25, 1862

Dear Father, [illegible] this morning to write you a short letter as I will have a chance to send it by Chidester the mail contact. I received your letter of the 9th ultimo, was very glad to hear from you. I am well at this time, hoping this may find you in the enjoyment of the same great blesing. I have nothing of much importance to write but will try to write as much as possible and be as interesting as I can. Our Rgt. is at this place about one mile from Richmond. Our grand Army that was stationed around here [illegible] gone to Jackson who is about 100 miles from here near [Fredricks?]ville. His force will amount to at least 250,000 men and he is now in pursuit of Pope's yanky forces who [illegible]. Our victorious Army is advancing on the yankeys at all points and they are falling back and I hope the day is [illegible] when we will again be free. McClellan's Army is on James River, are all gone to reinforce Pope and as soon as he arives a bloody battle with Jackson will be inevitable and when [illegible] fight in always whip them in [illegible] than 30,000 men around here who [illegible] back [illegible] there is severall [illegible] Regt. here and I have severall of my [illegible] that I knowed. Boll Sloan is first [illegible] in the 2 Miss. Regt. all the [illegible] are along. I hope this war will soon close and I will get back again, but there will still be some hard fighting. Lincoln has drafted [illegible] men but I am glad to think that they [illegible] only we have men enough to fight battles as many as can will be used. You written Hatty had got her arm broken but you did not write how she broke it. You must remind her of her only brother and not let her forget me. Give sister, Viola, Jim, Ben my love also any inquiring friends and in your next letter give me Moses post office so that I can write to him.

I will close. I will write more [illegible] have next time.

Your son, SUMTER ROWLAND.

P.S. Tuggle and all the boys send their love to you.

I will give you a description of our guns. We have the improved musket which is a verry good gun and will shoot 600 yds. They have percussion locks and are sure fire.

We had a slight brush with the enemy on grand gaurd and killed three men and captured their horses. Knews has just come into camp that [illegible] that we must leave here soon. We will smell gunpowder in less than twenty four hours.