The following letter was written by George A. Weldon (1838-1900), the son of James Weldon (1791-1860) and Dorothea Williams (1798-1850) of Negro Heel, Harris county, Georgia. He enlisted in late June 1861 to serve as a private in Co. E (the “Whitesville Guards”), 20th Georgia Infantry. His military record indicates that he was wounded in the Battle of Chickamauga on 19 September 1863 but survived the war and was surrendered at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865 as a corporal.

George married after the war and lived in Chambers county, Alabama, where he died in 1900. He was buried in the Mount Hickory Cemetery.

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Richmond, Virginia
July 29, 1861

Miss Jennie Smith,

With the most profound pleasure I resume my seat to make a few hasty remarks as time is precious and my pen is bad. I am happy to say that I am well at this time though I have been in bad health for some days. I am much better pleased with camp life than I anticipated (not well pleased at that). We enjoy ourselves very well—as much so as could be expected at the present period. But when I get in high spirits, I am apt to think of my dear friends that I have left in Georgia and it saddens my heart to a great degree. But I have one consolation to cheer me on—that is, I live in hopes of returning again to my native land.

Miss Jennie, I am obliged to you under many obligations for the beautiful memorial that you presented to me on the day of our departure which will be long remembered by me. Often have I thought of the pleasant hours that we spent together in Whitesville. Oh, may we enjoy them again.

I hope you will excuse this hasty and ill-composed note. I could willingly write more had I the time but the evening growing [late] (but not twelve o’clock), therefore, I must close. Give my respects to Amos and Fannie. Accept the same to yourself, be sure. I expect an answer soon. Nothing more at present but remain your true friend. As ever the same, — G. A. Weldon

N. B. Let no one see this—only yourself for my sake.