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Text translation of George Herndon's Letters. Most are to his mother Esther, but some are to his brother D.B. Herndon of the 4th VA Calvary. The top letter is the one I scanned. The rest are too light to scan in, he wrote in pencil. George was killed May 16, 1864 at the battle of Drewry's Bluff, he was 20 years old. He was in the 34th Virginia Infantry. George is my maternal great-great-great uncle. My grandmother Mamie Sonora Herndon Knott had the letters in her desk for years. George was her great-uncle. Camp Pine Berry was part of the coastal fortifications around Charleston, South Carolina. Sometime in the spring of 1864 the 34th VA was ordered up towards Richmond to stave off Grant and Butler.
April 17th 1864
Camp Pine Berry
South Carolina
Dear Mother
This beautiful spring evening hearing Strother had a furlough, I embraced the opportunity to write you a few lines, to let you know (letter is torn here in two, illegible)
Tell Sister Betsy to write to me for I would like to hear from her. Mother if I had any chance to go to Charleston I would send you my likeness by Strother , though I will have it taken and send it to you as soon as I can. Give my love to all inquiring friends and reserve a large portion for yourself. Nothing more from your affectionate son
George T. Herndon
For some unknown reason, there is part of a letter on the back of the above:
Preparedness for the Yankees I expected to get a furlough before now, but all furloughs are stopped by order of the sec. of war. I am very much disappointed for it would be a great pleasure for me to see you all once more. Tell Nathaniel (his 14 year old brother) and Boon (his older brother in the 4th VA) I think very hard of (letter torn here ?) enjoy ?
Of good health and fine spirits. I have not received a line from you for the past month, not knowing the reason, it gives me greatest of uneasiness, I am afraid there is some of you sick. I am sorry to say I have no news to write that would interest you, as everything is dull in this department. We are still here building batteries and making big ? (letter stops, no other pages)
Feb. 25th 1864
Department South Carolina
6th Military District
Camp Pine Berry
Dear Mother,
It is with the greatest of pleasure that I seat myself to answer your welcome letters of last month. It affords me great pleasure to hear you was well and doing well. I have enjoyed very good health ever since I cam to South Carolina. More so than I ever enjoyed before in my life. Our company is still down here on detached service building batteries and standing picket. We have to work 4 each day and on picket every 5 days. I hope we will be relieved here soon the duty being so heavy
March 13th 1864
Department South Carolina
6th Military District
Camp Pine Berry
Dear Brother,
I received your most appreciated and hyly (highly?) interesting letter in due time, and let me assure you; it was read with the greatest care and attention. I was very much hurt to hear of the sad ailment of our mother, though I am in hopes she has improved much from the disease for which she was suffering. You know brother; we have a good mother and to loose her would be a ? irrbearable to us. I however fondly trust for her recovery. I was very sorry to hear of the raids the Yankees made through Green, Madison and Orange. I think it was a great mistake on the part of the military for all owing the disbandment of the Calvary. They have no right to inflict any thing else after giving them every opportunity. I am very much afraid that our homes will have no more rest, as long as this wicked and cruel war shall last. I am very much afraid they will put the people to so much illconvenience (inconvenience?) that it will be an impossibility to raise crops as the amount of refraying requisite for safety would sadly interfere. We must hope for the best, that the bright and glorious day of peace will soon dawn upon our now burdened.
(Not dated)
Dear Mother, as Dink was going home on Furlough, I declined writing until now. Dink and Strothers Furlough is putting out this evening. Our whole company has reenlisted unanimously. As it will be so warm down here this summer I have a pair of boots I will send home (letter folded here writing is illegible). For me next winter, I want you to send me a pair of shoes, a pair of pants and a piece of hard soap, also a small linen towel, other clothing I have plentiful and Mother if you have it to spare I would like for you and Sister Betsy to send me some butter, I feel like I want some to eat. Dink (? Doug) will bring them down to me when he returns. Mother you must write every chance you get , for I am glad to hear from you any time. I have nothing more to write but remain your affection son.
George T. Herndon
Write soon
Dear Mother
As there is no chance to draw shirts and draws down here, I would be very glad for you to send me a couple of ? , when Dink was on Furlough (? Letter torn here) by you, they were good, but they were ? I have is really (scratched out) thought they new
Good by Mother for the present
George T. Herndon