[In the 1860 Census, Peterson is listed as a 37-year-old farm laborer. The Census also indicates that Peterson could not read or write.]

August the 3rd 1863 N C Sampson
Conty Clinton Post Office
Dear mr Govener Vance I seat myself
this morning to drop you a line to state
to you my situatin and Pityful Case my
Father has 7 sons all are gone to service
but me and three of them are dead my Fa
ther himslf cant walk onely on crutches
and hant for two years and no person to
attend to him but me I am cho[s]en Adminis
trator for my father in cause of the death of
one of my brothers and is Chosen Adminis
trator for another one chosen by his wife also
there is one sister with my father onely and includi
ng all except my Father [?] of my brothers and
sisters and my one Family which makes 4
wome[n] and 12 children all in care of me b[o]und
to suffer for want of some person to see to them
my one [1] Family is in bad sate of health
my Wife has the liver complaint not able
to perform and labour scarsly at all
and has five little children not a person
at all to work for them but me
[page 2]
Itis a general conclusion amongs ever
one of my neighbours that I ought to be left
at home and that I would be of more
service at home than I would in the
army here is no person to carry off what little
we make for government but me that is
able to attend to it I am going in my 41th year
and I would be truly glad and rjoiced
if you would exempt me from the conscript
ts as for the milishia I must serve when calle
d on I hav never refused going with them
yet all of thes persons above mentioned are loo
king to me for assistance and has been
ever since the war first commenced and my
neighbours all knows it it cant be dis
puted I umbly beg and would be truly
thankful if you would releave me from
the conscripts on account of my pittyful
situation pleass send me and answer t o
this letter as soon as it comes to hand
and let me know wheter you will clear
me or not yours truly and yerry respect
fully
Aron Peterson