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The 38th Virginia spent December 26, 1861 to early March of 1862 in winter quarters near the battlefield of First Manassas. Many of the soldiers were ill due to the extreme cold, rain, ice, and snow, as well as to the diseases that were circulating in the camp, particularly the mumps (Gregory 10-11).

On March 2, 1862, James Booker was admitted to Richmond General Hospital #18 with chronic diarrhea (Gregory 82).

"Flem Gregory" probably refers to James F. Gregory of Company D, who enlisted with the Bookers at Whitmell. He was admitted to Richmond Hospital in July of 1863, and was on sick furlough from July 20-August 29, 1863. He returned to Company D until he was wounded in action at Drury's Bluff on May 16, 1864 (Gregory 98). He entered Richmond Hospital with a severe leg wound, then was transferred to a Danville hospital. He deserted from the Danville hospital on the 26th of September in 1864, but returned by the end of the year. He was taken prisoner at White Oak Road in April of 1865, and was released in June of 1865 (Gregory 98). See also John Booker's letter of December 22, 1863, where he writes that Flem Gregory is ill.

Josiah Burnett was admitted to Chimborazo Hospital on October 26, 1861 with typhoid fever, but returned to his company on the 16th of December, 1861. He died of meningitis on Feburary 12, 1862 (Gregory 84). See James Booker's letter of September 6, 1861, where he first reports that Burnett is ill.

"Mr. Faris" is probably William Faris, who enlisted with the Booker brothers at Whitmell and was discharged on a surgeon's certificate of disability on January 27, 1862 (Gregory 93).

Nathaniel Robertson, a native of Pittsylvania County, enlisted in Company D with the Booker brothers in May of 1861. He was furloughed from February 15 to March 17 of 1862 so that he could recover his health (Gregory 121).

Cornelius Gilbert enlisted with Booker brothers at Whitmell. By July of 1862, he was promoted to Color Corporal. He received a gunshot wound to the head at Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862, and died at Chimborazo #2 on July 3, 1862 (Gregory 96).

"Clifton Pinick" probably is Charles Clifton Penick, who was with Company D from its founding in May of 1861. He served as a Quarter Master Sergeant in the Confederate Army until he was paroled at Appomatox in 1865. He later became a missionary in West Africa and the Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church Richmond at Shenandoah Flats (Gregory, 117). Penick is also mentioned in James Booker's letter of November 24, 1862.