Randilsville NC April 27th 1863
Mr Vance Dear Sir I drop you afew
Lines to Let you no what I want you
to do for me or instruct me how to do
when the war Broke out I Volenteerd
under Capt W P Martin Moore County
and Staid in until I was discharged
by you at Carolina City for a cronic
disease of the Bouels of ten years standing
and when the conscript Law coms I was
Exemped for being ablacksmith I have
bin working for 15 years at that I was
a Mechanic which will find on Record
and my helth is very slender So I cant
work with out doing My Self Injury
and I have got Receipts how to make Soap
of all Sorts I can make one Barrel of
Soft Soap Every day and with some hands
I can make Eny amount required I Live
in 18 miles of a rail Road I can Send
it to Wilmington Every week it is good
Soap to wash Close or Skin which I can
prove to you and I want to do something
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for the goverment and if you will
Let me make Soap I will do what is
wright as nigh as I can I have plenty
of good wood to Burn ashes to Last me
12 monthes Please wright to me soon
and I Refer to my Neighbours hoo has
Seen the soap & hoo noes I can make it
and abou a dy at that Simion
Mc Lean D R Mc Leod Malcum c[???]
[??????] Mc Photter there has Bin So meny
Pertishons Sent to you I will try and
prove my self as I tell you
Adress me at Randalsville Robison Co
NC
Please wright as soon as you can so I may
no what to do for the wood ort to be cut
before the sap rises
yours &c John L Caddell