University of Virginia Library

The 53rd Virginia Regiment was also part of Armistead's Brigade, along with the 9th, 14th, 38th and 57th (Gregory, 20.)

"Sister" may refer to James and John's sister Mary Ann Booker Sparks (1825-1872) or to their step-sister Margaret Benson Reynolds (1815-1867), referred to as "sister Benson" in James' letter of October 4, 1863.

It is possible that this is Martha Ann Fulton whom James would later marry in 1867.

According to the Booker and Blair family Bible, Drury Blair died in September of 1864.

James quotes from the King James Version of the Bible.

This postscript was added the next day in pencil. James Booker was probably anticipating an attack from union General Benjamin F. Butler's Army of the James, which was advancing toward Richmond. On May 10, Butler's Army of the James clashed with Barton's Brigade (of which the 38th Virginia was a part) at the Battle of Chester Station (Gregory 50).