Filer discusses his eagerness for the Union army to take Richmond, his brief meeting with Ulysses S. Grant, and his difficulty disbursing rations for soldiers on furlough because of the high cost of living in the city (he is especially upset that shaving costs so much). Filer briefly alludes to his interactions with a formerly enslaved person whom he describes as "handy." However, he proceeds to refer to African Americans as "contraband," scapegoat them for the entire war, and complain about their high wages.