A great war-date Confederate soldier's, 1p. oblong 8vo., letter written by Pvt. Joseph Ghoalson (Goalson in the CW database), Co. B, 34th Virginia Infantry, "Tenches near Petersburg, Va., Nov. 27, 1864 addressed to Capt. Robert E. Foote as AAG on Major General Bradley T. Johnson's staff, reading, in full: "I respectfully ask permission to appear before the Division Medical Ex. Board for light duty. I was wounded on the 17th of June in the left hand which has since been amputated. Joseph Gholson private, Co. B, 34th Va. Infantry, Wise's Brigade." Numerous endorsements on the verso approve Ghoalson's request and cover nearly the entire version of the document. There are endorsements by: Col. J. Thomas Goode of the 34th as commander of the brigade; Ghoalson's company commander Capt. Thomas Taylor Pettus [WIA & POW Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865]; Capt. Alexander Jordan as commander of the 34th. After going up through the chain of command Capt. Foote signs and makes the approvals official by command of division commander Major General Bradley Johnson. Finally, the surgeons of the examining board give their approval in assigning Ghoalson as courier. Their approval dated Dec. 2, 1864, reads, in part: "…the board finds that Private Ghoalson lost all fingers on left hand from the effects of gunshot wound June 17. They therefore recommend he be detailed as courier." This recommendation is followed by the four signatures of the surgeons of the board. Expected soiling, else VG