[Core had served in the 2nd NC Inf and lost an arm at the Battle of Malvern Hill. He had previously directed a letter to Vance on January 12, 1863. Presumably someone else wrote his letters for him.]

March the 19 1863
Mr vance i now take the oppertunity
to drop you A few lynes to let you
know know how i am in posed on
beye men that was never binn in the
army nor never will bee if tha can get
stuck out in a old pine feald pertend
in to cut cold wood for the goverment
i am a wounded soilder i hav lost my
left arm and all most my rite hand
after goin and fitein for our coutrey
i am not alloued a nuff a ground to
plant a few potatos on i am now
live ing on a mans plantation bye the
name of Ely Senard and he is threating
of tho ing me out of doors bee couse i
am not a ble to pay him house rent if
i had my lims like i had bee fore i
volen teerd i cood pay him rent
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i think such men ought to bee sent
to fite the yankes as i have done at
sever al points i have tried to rent a
house and garden from several men
and oferd to pay a doller anda half
a mounthe and that is more than i am
a ble to pay withe out i cood work
Mr Elie robins has 7 emty houses
on our plant ation and me and
outh ers has tried to rent some of
them and he says he will stick fire to
them and burn them down bee fore
he will rent them out and my neighbors
tells to move in woun of his housees so
that i can hav a garden this is the
thanks i get for fiting for my country please
Mr vance write to me what to doo soon
direct your letter Chomeing ton post offic
gulford co N C
William Core