The following letter was written by George T. Herndon (1844-1864) while serving as a private in Co. D, 4th Regiment Virginia Heavy Artillery. He enlisted in Jul 1863, and was sent with his regiment to Charleston in September 1863. He was transferred to Co. D, 34th Virginia Infantry in March 1864, and was killed in action near Port Walthall Junction on 16 May 1864. George was the son of James Herndon (1789-1857) and Esther Ferneyhough (18xx-1892) of Madison, Madison county, Virginia. His older brother Daniel Boone Herndon (1838-1923), also served in the Confederate army as a private in Co. C (the “Madison Invincibles”), 4th Virginia Cavalry on 24 April 1861. His military record indicates he was wounded on 15 February 1862. 

[This letter is from the private collection of Greg Herr and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Camp near Charleston & Savannah Railroad
Charleston, South Carolina
[Monday] November 23, 1863

Dear Brother,

For the first time I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know where I am and how I am getting along. Our regiment has been stationed at Fort Johnson for the past week or two on duty. On last Thursday we were stationed at Battery Simpkins under a heavy fire from the enemy’s batteries. But as the Lord would have it, there was only one man was hurt and he had his arm shot off near his shoulder. He belonged to the 12th Georgia Battalion.

Dear Brother, I have no news to write that would interest you as times are dull in camp. It is rumored in camp that we are going up the country a few miles to take up winter quarter but whether it is so I am not able to say.

As one of our company is going home on a furlough, I wish you would contrive word to her to send a couple pair of socks to Gordonsville to brother John and on his return from home he will apply at the transportation office for the socks. He will be sure and bring them safe to me. I wrote to Mother the other day about it but for fear she would not get the letter, I named it in yours.

Give my love to Mr. Wayland’s family and Julia. Write soon as you can. I must close by saying goodbye for the present. — George T. Herndon