Duncan served in Co. D, 20th NC Inf. He was reported absebt without leave on July 6, 1863. He returned to duty before November 1, 1863. Duncan was hospitalized at Richond on May 4, 1864 for a gunshot wound to the left arm (date and place not reported) and was absent on furlough through December 1864.]

April the 27th /1863
Huguenot Springs Hospital v.a
Gov. Z. B Vance Dear Sir I
This day avail my Self To Rite To you
my present Condition That I am here
in This hospital afflicted with The
Rheumatisms also from A fall off ov
A Bridge and A mule falling on me and
Cripeled my hip and I am unable to
do eny duty in feeld Servis and Those
verginia doctors will not do eny Thing
for me also in Sorrow I must Say To you
That I Received A letter from my Today
Stateing To me That my wife and 4 little
Children were Suffering for the want
of Bread for The Reson That my wages
is So Small it will not Support Them
and again The exstortioners will not
Sell provisions at A fair Rate and dear
Sir I most umbley Beg of you as it is in
your power To put down Those outragus
exstortioners and make Som way for The
[page 2]
porr widows That There husbands
have died on field of Battle That
have Shed There Blood on Thare
Countrys alter also for The wifes
of The poor men who are yet living
and Suffering The hardships of A Camp
life for There Country But The worst
Soufference of all is To look Back at
our wives and little Children who
is Starving for The want of food
for I am To day exsperianceing That
fact I will now State To you
That I have Bin 2 years This day in
The Servis Battleing for my Country
and I am yet willing To do my utmost
for our Country But it is very
painful To Think of my wife and
Children That is Suffering for food
[page 3]
and if I new how To ask of aright
for help I would do it if you war To
Request it I would git on my knees
To you and pray for your help Till I
had worn out my knees I have praied
To god for help daily and he will
help us But man is Requred To
do his part also please excuse
all mistakes and pardon all
errors in This feble petition and
may god help us and may he
further put it in The harts of
Those exstorrioners To help us
and may we Come our more Than
Counkers in The end of This Cruil
was is my prairs
[photograph of page 4 missing]