Five of the six letters in this collection are addressed to P.G. or Martha P. Henry, John's father and mother living in Locust Cottage. Two letters from John describe his living arrangements and financial difficulties in Fayetteville. Another letter, from O.C. Gray of Fayetteville, describes John's final illness. The last two letters are from relatives living or visiting Fayetteville and describe John's death and his burial site at Evergreen Cemetery.

The earliest letter in the collection is from Private John L. Russell, Company C, 6th Arkansas Infantry, dated July 7, 1861, from Pocahontas, Arkansas. Russell, a Confederate volunteer who probably lived in Dallas County, Arkansas, may have been related to the Henry family.