[McDonald enlisted on March 20, 1862 when he was 18 years old. He was wounded on September 17, 1862 and was absent because of wounds until December 1863, and again from May through August 1864. He was paroled on April 23, 1865.]

Curriesville P.O. June 25th 1863
Moore County N. C.

To His Excellency Gov. Vance
Sir I am a wounded Soildier
I was wounded in the Battle
of Sharpsburg with a fragment
of a Shell it hit me near
my Sholder & loddged near my
lungs. it is so deep it cant be
extracted. I has nearly lost the
use of my arm. it hurts me
at time to Breath.
I wont to know of you if you
will grant me a discharg.
if I will have three of the Dr
of Carthag to Sertifi that I am
intitle to one. & hav the Drs
recominded by the clerk of the
cort. I never expect to be able
to work. I wants a discharg
so I can go to school
[page 2]
I am a member of C.O. D..
49th Regt. N. C. T.
Yours obedient
Kenneth M Mc Donald
Curriesville P. O.
Moore County N. C.

P..S.. pleas send me a few lines
by the Return mail