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13 letters written to his parents and his wife while he was serving in Company I, 3rd Michigan Cavalry, 1861-62. He tells of life in camps Anderson and Benton in St. Louis, comments on officers, quarters, slowness in equipping the cavalry units, picket duty, weather, and poisoned food sold to the soldiers by citizens. He describes the train trip to St. Louis, the use of balloons, and a Washington's birthday celebration. Much of each letter is given to religious reflections.

Three diaries (1863-1865) written while he was serving in Company D, Sixth Michigan Cavalry, as quartermaster sergeant and later lieutenant. Most of his entries concern the weather, food, sickness, letters, camp life,and battles with brief references to Gettysburg, Opequon, and Appomattox Court House. A large portion of his time was spent in the Campbell General Hospital, Washington, D.C. On May 19, 1864 he mentions Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln's visit to the hospital. Barbour was a resident of Fenton, Mich. This collection also includes an 1863 diary of Barbour's brother Frank A. Barbour. Frank Barbour served in Company A, 5th Michigan Cavalry. He died July 10, 1863, from wounds received in action at Gettysburg. The diary contains Frank's description of the events leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg, and George's account of his brother's last days.