[Lytle wrote this letter on behalf of a neighbor, Alcey Crook.]

March the 25 day 1863
govnar of the State of N C
Mr Z.B Vance Dear sir after
my best respects and Lov to youe
I write youe afue Lins To infourm
youe that I am well and herty
hoping when thos Lins coms to hand
tha may Find youe anjoying vary
best of heth govnar I a thought
youe would hav witing to
M.P. Lytle befour now when
you get thoas Lins I want
youe To rite when you thinck
pease will be mad aul of your
Firend is well in buncomb
and ses how rough [1] for
Z. B. Vance my object of riting
to you is This a young man
bey Name of Jasper crook was taking sick an sent to
Ralegh NC an was put in
tha houspitatal a bout 7
weaks a goe and his pople
[page 2]
has not heard from him
sence he is from Bumcombe co
in J. R. Young companey in tha
11 Reagment of state Troops of .N.C
volenteers an Mr vance his
Mother qu[??]hes of you [inquires?]
if tha is a man bey tha name
of Jasper crook in tha Houspital
at Roligh she wants you to you
to make an inqury a bout him
an if he is thar she wants youe to
goe an see him an see how he is
a making out an rite what
you thinck is the matter
with him and mr vance
Mrs crook ses if tha is aney chanc
in tha world fur you to send
him home he git well
he is a good Firend of yours
and mine tow so mr vance
Dow your bes an send him home
if you can so rite soon and
let me noe wether Jasper
crook is at Roly her [2] I under
stand he is a bout a mil from
roligh rit soon yours vary respectfuly and
obedeet survant M J Lytle [??]