[W. A. E. Roberts is listed in the 1860 Census as a 34-year-old tailor, with a wife and two children. He served as a sergeant in Co. K, 50th NC Inf.]

Camps Near Kinston NC
July the 14th 1863
Gov Vance
Dear Sir
I take the Liberty
of Droping you a few Lines this morning
asking you to alo me a favor its
not because I want to get out of
the Servis it because I am not
Able to go through the hardships
of a Solder in Camps I am aflicted
with the Rumitism and Piles
so that I aint able half my time
for Duty allthough I have Bin
on every march save 3 since I
have Bin in this Regt But at
some times it seamed to me that
Every step I took would be my
Last and Rather than have it said
that I was a coward I would of
marched untel my feet would
of Droped off of my Legs before
I would give up it is well
known at home and in the Army
that its not that I want to get
[page 2]
out of Servis that I rite this Letter
to you and its not my intention
to try to get out of it en tirely
I never have asked for a Discharge
in this Regt nor in the 6th Regt
that I first belonge to but they
gave me a Discharge in that Regt
because they Dident think that I
would be able to do them eny good
and I went home and Stayed there
a few months and I got well or
at Least I thought I was well anuff
to Stand it a gain and then I voltent
=erd in Capt Wilkins Campany and
has done all I could for the welfare
of our Cuntry and I ask you to
me this favor not to get me out
of the Servis but to get me in
Some place where I wont have to
take these hard marches at some
Post where I wont have to walk
much or give me some Little Apo
ointment in some work shop or on
some Rail Road or if I could get
into a goverment shop or any Place
[page 3]
that I wouldent have much walking
to do nor be exsposed to the wether
I will Leave that for you to Judge
what Place would be best for a man
that is aflicted with Deseases that
I am I spoke of some goverment shop you
Know my traid I Recond if you havent
forgot I am a tailor that Lives in
Old Rutherfordton I Recond you
Recollect me very well., O how is
your mother Birt tel her I will be
over to see her before I Leave David
is thare yet I Recond for he has
never went over yet and I Recond
he would tell eny thing but what
was so but I have for got he said
he was a going to beat Zeb Bad
over the mountains and he Dident
want his Clos frends over in
Rutherford to be in the minority
But I gess he found them in the
majority then Since I thought
of it I Recon he has Left Rutherf
ordton But he sliped a Little the
signes Didnt Sute him and
[page 4]
he Left with out going to See
my mama govenor Please to
Let me here from you in a few
Days on the Subject there is
no use for a man to try to get
a Discharge in the Armey these
Days nor I dont want one if I
can get a Situation that I can
half way Live jest as Long as
a man has Breath here they wont
pay no attention to him in Regards
to giveing him a Discharge there
was some talk Some time ago
that it was against the Armey Regula
tion to rite to the Presedent and it
may be to rite to the gov if it
is I Beg Pardon and Dont want to
be Punished for it But give me
a ancer to my Letter if you Please
and I will Ever be thankfull
to you So I Remain as ever
your obedient Servant
W. A. E Roberts .O. Sergt
Direct your Lettr to me co K 50th
Regt NC Troops Kinston NC