[His service records indicate Pless deserted to the enemy on October 9, 1864.]

Haywood county N C
August the 18th 1863
Mr vance it is one time that I take mi pen
to write you A few lins as A Pore privet
Bee longing to company F 14th Reg of NCT
I hav Ben Sick for A long time and am at home
at this time and hant well yet and Dont exspect
ever to Be eny more and I haf to go Back to Sur vis
and I want to go to wher mi Brothers is if I
can I want you to giv me A trans fur or hav it Don
if you Pleas I hav Ben in Sur vis ever sens the
war Be gon and I hant Ben at home But one time
and I lay in the hosptle 6 months Be fore I got to com
home and I am geting so that I can go A Bout rite
Smart and I Soon will haf to Start Back and I Dont
think that I ever can ceep up with mi Compney
eny more I hav got the rumatic pains So in mi feet that
I cant walk to do eny good and has had A ulsor on mi face
and it has cosed me to Sufer lots and I Dont exspect to ever
get Sound eny more and I hope you will get me Atrans
fur to the 62 Reg in Capt Wilson compy Co I
or hav me Ditaild for Som Survis that I wont hav eny
Marching to Do I am wiling to Do eny thing that I can
Do it has Ben twelv months Sens I Don eny Survis
But I was in for hard Batles while I was thare I hope
you will giv me somthing that I can Stand up to Do
I Belong to your old companey I hope you will let
me no Dy Rect to the forks of Pidgeon Haywood co
yours truly
J. H. Pless to

Gov Z Bevance