I, James F. Burgess of Clinton in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, hereby certify that in the month of November 1861, I was a corporal in Co. "C" 15th Regt. Mass Vols. then stationed at Poolesville Md., and Francis E. Smith of said Clinton was a private in the said Company, that on or about the 18th day of said month the Regiment received their second payment from the United States, and said Francis received the sum of twenty six dollars; that on the 21st day of said month I received a furlough of 14 days for the purpose of going home to Clinton on account of ill health, that said Francis, hearing that I was going home, came to me and asked me to take some money to his mother, Mrs. Louisa Smith, and he put fifteen dollars in a letter directed to his mother, which I took home with me and gave to her. When I handed her the letter I told her there was money in it, and asked her to see if it was right. She opened the letter in my presence, took out the money and I saw there was fifteen dollars.