[From Zebulon Vance, Governors Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC]

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Leesville 

Robeson Co. N.C

March the 5th 1864

Gov Z. V. Vance

          Sire it is with sorrow this day I seat my self to inform you my condition. I am sorrow to inform you I am now a lying out thoe I rather in dew it then to have to remain in such a condition. Govner when the concript law was past I [was] not 18 thoe I Soon be come of that age am I [was] a mail driver un till I quit of my [own] a cord thoe Be fore I quit driving I tol Capt E C Atkisson[1] of comp B 50 NCT I wood go to his comp an now he sayes he caint take me [without] your consent thoe he wants me in his co. verry Bad. Govener I now [wish] the privlidge of goin to that comp. all of my relation is in that comp; all of my nabers is in that comp. I have 2 /Brothers/ their an I wish to go to them. gove Please grant me the privelidge of dewing so as Capt. Atkisson wants me an my foakes all wants mee to go to that comp. gove please submit me the privlidg now ask an an rite to Capt. Atkisson he can take me so I hoap you will soon give me a Answer to this an permit mee to go to Capt Atkisson comp. pleas send me a Pass to carry me to that comp.

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yours Obt Servant 

my adrees Leesville Po NC

W.D. Lawson[2]

 

[Endorsement]

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Tell him to come up like a man & I will try to get him in the regt he desires

ZBV

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[1] Emcoin C. Atkinson (1836-1912), a farmer from Lumberton, was captain of Company B, 50th North Carolina Infantry from February 25, 1862 until the end of the war. Jordan, comp., North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster; 12:163; 1860 U.S. census.

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[2] W.D. Lawson (b. 1844) enlisted in Company B, 50th North Carolina Infantry on March 15, 1864. He “died at home while absent without leave” on an unspecified date. Jordan, comp., North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster, 12:170.