2015.002.072a
Letter written by Private Edward B. Hendron of Company I, 26th NC Infantry, C. S. A., to his parents, from camp near Orange Court House, VA. Hendron is writing to let them know that he is alive and well, and to thank them for a box of clothes and shoes that they sent to him. He is camped near the Rapidan River and doing picket duty. He describes how the Union forces advanced on them a few days prior, mentioning picket fighting and cannonading. Hendron writes that he has grown weary of the war, and that many men from the 26th NC Infantry were refusing to reenlist. He himself hopes for peace so that he may return home.
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February 13th ‘/64
Camp near Orange C.H. V.A.
Dear Father – and Mother through the kind mercies of God I am once more blessed with the opportunity of writing to you informing you that I am tolerable well at present for which I feel very thankful and truly hope these times may find you all blessed with good health and doing well I received your very kind letter last evening that you sent by Mr. Millsaps and was very glad to hear from you once more. I am sory to inform you that I did not Receive the box you you started to me by Mr Stephenson and the one that was started by Mr. Millsaps was left at statesville he said he thought it would be at
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Orange today and I hope I will get it for I need it very bad. I received the shews that was sent to me they fit me very well and I was very glad and thankful to get them although I did not need them very bad I had bought me some leather and got an old pair of shews and mended them and made me a firstrate pair of shews. I can inform you that we are camped near the Rappidan river and doing picket duty our picket lines are along the river the yankees advanced on us last sinday I was one on the front post Saturdy night and the Regt. was marched in to the breast works at dayligh and stayed in line of battle all day there was picket fighting and canonading but no general engagement.
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Febr 16th ‘/64
I will finish my letter as I did not get to conclude my letter the other day. I went to Orange Saturday to see if my box had come I was on picket Sunday and I went to town again yesterday but I have not got my box yet but some of us will go to town every day till we get them if they come there there has been a great many boxes brought to camps this winter and I have bought something to eat of them when I was suffering. i have always been tired of this war and I am so yet they made an effort to get the men of the 26th to reenlist last sunday and there was nary man enlisted in Co F. ther was none from Co. C and only about 60 officers and all in the Regt
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The men are generally getting very tired of the war and a great many of the old vol. say they are going home when their time is out in the spring I do hope providence will so rule that we may be blessed with peace in our country once more I hope the people of N.C. will do something to relieve us if they have the privilage of voteing for a convention I must close by saying I want to see you all very bad and enjoy peace and liberty about my native home once more
Please write as often as you can so I remain yours as ever E.B. Hendren
To J. Hendren
Edward Bunyon Hendren was from Statesville, NC. He enrolled at age 23 on September 23, 1862 in Company I of the 26th NC Infantry. He was wounded at Gettysburg. In November of 1863 he was listed as a deserter, but returned to duty January 1, 1864. He was captured at Burgess’ Mill, VA on October 27, 1864, confined at Point Lookout, MD then paroled March 28, 1865. He was transferred to Boulware’s Wharf, VA on March 29th, 1865 and received by Confederate authorities the next day. Hendren lived as a farmer in Wilkes County, NC. He was a prominent citizen, representing the county in the state legislature in 1898 and passed away from a heart attack in 1909.
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