This collection consists of a diary kept by Frank Smith Reader between March-June 1864. In it, he describes the march up the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, the burning of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), the pillaging that took plage in Lexington, and the march to Lynchburg. Reader also documented the weather, his daily duties, the conduct of officers, the 9th West Virginia Cavalry, the 5th West Virginia Cavalry, Ringgold Battallion, and Averell's Division. He also compares the appearance of the Shenandoah Valley, its homes and people with conditions existing at the time of his march through the same territory in 1862. Additional topics include the following: capture of Piedmont by McNeill, "Porte Crayon," skirmishes with McNeill and Imboden, enemy engagement, desperate fighting and the retreat from Mt. Jackson, General Hunter replacing General Sigel, the military capabilities of Hunter and Sigel, Crook's victories in the Kanawah Valley, Hunter's campaign, burning houses, subsisting off the country, engagement at Staunton, the death of Confederate General W. E. Jones, Governor Letcher's home, the destruction of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the start to White Sulphur, being taken prisoner and marched under guard to Calihan's Station, being in jail in Covington, and the possibility of being sent south.