[Holder served in the 22nd NC Inf.]

State of North Carolina Randolph County
Mr govener Z B Vance I have Deserted
fro the army I will go back if you can
provide some way that I shant be shot nor
punisht I volintierd for twelve months and served
my time out and now I am nothing more than a
conscript and have never recieved no bounty and
i want to go to the 46 rigment wher my brother
is I left the army after we come our of Maryland
and if you can fix any way and send me instrument
of riting that i can git back and not be hurt i will
go and i will git all i can to go they are severl
ses that they will go back if they nowed that
they would not be shot rite back soon and let
me no Mail your letter sandy creek
Randolph County N C to L F Holder

Mr Z B Vance govener of N C
From L F Holder
Oct 20 AD 1863