The Commonwealth of Virginia
To James Mullins from special trust and confidence uposed [sic] in your fidelity, courage and good conduct, our governor, in pursuance of the authority vested in him by the constitution and Laws of the the Commonweatlh, doth commission you first Lieutenant in the 126th regiment of the 27th Brigade and 5th Division of the Virginia Militia, to rank as such from the 4th day of April 1863
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name as Governor, and caused the seal of the Commonwealth to be affixed, this 16th day of April 1863
[?] Samuels
Adj. General Va HH Peirpoint Governor
Transcription by Autumn Drummond, undergraduate student enrolled in Dr. Billy Joe Peyton's Fall 2010 "Introduction to Public History" at West Virginia State University