July the 5 1863

Deer sir it is with trobble I
take my seat to right you a
fu liens to let you know that
I have de serted from my
comarne an I am sorry for it
but I did not do it wilforly
for I though[t] to go back that
night but stade over my time
by being broke down I had
bin on a long march an was
mity hongry an all most
naked an I march close by
home an left my comarne [1] an
went home to get som thin
to ete an som close an the
orders being to strict I
am a frade to go back I want
you if you plese to send me
a pass to go back to my regme
nt an I never will leave it
no more I have serve fathful
twelve monts an I am wilin
to serve as long as the war
[page 2]
last <?> if you will plese to
fix to get me back an not
punish me I wat to go back
an if you will fix for me to
git back I will be more then
a blige to you an God dos know
my hart I never will leave
my comorne no more for I had
rather dye on battle feal
then to dye a deser[t]or for I
never want it sed that I ever
dide a deser[t]or for it will be
a disgrace to me as long as
I live an to my pore little
childon after I am ded I had
ote to a rote be fore now but
I was a frade but at last I
came to the conclusion I make
a start to try to git back to
my rigment an I hope by your
help an God help I shal git
back <????> <???>
[page 3]
my rigment the last I
heard of it was in va I have
rote a nof if it will do
enny good I hope to git a
ancer sune from you an hope
you will fix for me to git
back safe pryvit
John Avrett belonging to the
44 rigment Captin l r
Andson N C state tropes [Capt. L. R. Anderson of Co. D, 44th NC Inf.]
Govorner vance

if you ancer me dyrect
to willor Green post office
pitt County