[The son to whom she is referring, John Wesley Holder, was 12 years old at the time of the Census of 1860. Holder enlisted at age 15 on March 1, 1863 as a substitute. He was wounded at Spotsylvania on May 10, 1864 and absent wounded through August. He was hospitalized at Richmond when he was captured on April 3, 1865. He was eventually released.]

June the 2 1863
I now take present op por tunity
of writing to you to let you
know that my son is in the
army and that I want him
to Come home that he is underage
and was perswaded of By
Wm Mc masters on be noing [1] to
me and that his father
is now dead and his reqest
for him to come home

Wm Mc Master is well and
harty and I want you to
send and git him in my sons
place for he is better able
to be in the army than my son is
for he is nigh sighted and
Cant see hardly any and I think
you are the one that Can Send
him home but Wm Mcmasters
[page 2]
in his own place his name
is John W Holder in the 46
Regement N C Troops Co g
under Captin Care for he
wont be fifteen tell next July
So Send him home if you
his native home is in
Randolph County N C
the last word Branson [2] Sed was 
that he wanted him to Come
home and Wm Mcmasters is
hear A Speculatin Selling bacon
$1 00 per pound rite back wheather
you can get him off or not rit
to Sandy Creek P O
oblige your Friend
Marget Holder to
Z. B. Vance