In a July 19, 1861, letter to "Dear Sister," Parker writes from Warrenton [i.e. Warrington] Fla. (?). He writes that he is doing well and asks for some hams (if they can be spared) and mentions that onions and cakes would be acceptable. He asks that they all be sent in the same box which must be marked "Capt Dawson 1st Regiment Ala Volunteers Warrenton [sic] Fla (?)." He writes that there were some "target shooters at Pickens yesterday" who "shot this way" and that there is "some sickness in this company at this time, three cases of the feared same measels, none dangerous." The letter is written on stationery with a red, white, and blue Confederate flag on the upper left hand corner of the first page. In a November 25, 1861, letter to "Dear Father and Mother," Parker writes that he is well. He reports the the Yankees opened fire on Friday morning and that the firing was kept up until Sunday morning. No damage was done to the 1st regiment but 7 Georgians were killed and 17 wounded. He wrote that bombs fell thick as hail, that they dismounted two enemy guns and knocked a hole in the fort, and that he fired the first gun from the battery. The letter is written on stationery with a blue letterhead containing Confederate flags and a Jefferson Davis portrait, with the heading "Confederate States of America," addressed to W.R. Parker, Troy, Ala, with the return address "Corp Jno M Parker, Comp G 1st Ala Reg." In a January 2, 1862, letter to "Dear Sister and Brother," Parker writes that he has "showed the tug of another battle." He writes that the firing commenced at 9 o'clock in the evening, that the bombs fell like hailstones, and that no one got hurt on his side. He also writes that he will be home around February 18 and thinks he will go to Savanah (?) [i.e. Savannah?] and "get a position in the Marine Corps at that place under Capt Boggs." [Almost certainly William R. Boggs, CSA, who was at Pensacola and soon after Savannah.] The letter is written on the same stationery as the July 19 letter and is dated January 1st, 1862. A postscript requests: "Direct your letter to John M Parker 1st Regt Ala Volunteers, care of Capt Dawson, Warrington Fla."
