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WAR RECORD & LETTERS
SUBMITTED BY
Carole Farr Drexel
2nd Lieutenant William Michael HENDERSON
Company E, 5th Georgia Cavalry
Bulloch Troop
War Record of W. M.
Henderson
Father of Mrs. Lizzie Henderson Evans, Mrs. Mary Henderson Overstreet,
Mrs. Emmie Hollingsworth, Mrs. Annie Henderson Farr and Miss Lottie
Henderson, all members of the Screven county chapter, Daughters of the
Confederacy. W. M. Henderson was born at Cameron, Ga., February 28,
1843: entered the Confederate army, Co. E, Fifth Georgia cavalry, which
was made up of Bulloch, Screven and Emanuel men. He had intended
enlisting with the Screven troop, but living just across the river from
Bulloch, and having many schoolmates and close friends across the river,
he went with them. He was eighteen years of age when he entered the
service February 24, 1862, and served his beloved cause until May 2,
1865, being in active service three years and three months.
His regiment did coast duty from Savannah to Jacksonville,
Fla., until the last year of the war: they joined the western army in
April, 1864. The following is quoted from letters written home about
himself, while doing skirmish duty in Fla:
‘‘I enlisted in Savannah under Captain A. L. Hendry, went
from there to Jacksonville, located about three miles out, at Cedar
Creek, Fla.: from there to Adams Run, S.C., on May 21, 1864. From
there to Western army under General Johnson: joined the western army at
Kennesaw mountain, did skirmish duty there until removed to Saltville,
Va., where we fought negroes mostly; they were made drunk by the Yanks:
we fairly mowed them down. Had typhoid fever for six weeks in the
summer of 1863.”
His stepfather, J. C. Cameron, tried to secure his relief from the army
after that long illness, in June, 1863, but Colonel Anderson would not
accept a substitute; said he was too good a soldier to release. And,
indeed, no braver, better, more loyal man offered his life for his
country; well may they do him honor.
He was on picket duty in and around Charleston, S.C., for six months.
During the year 1862, he was doing courier duty under General
Beauregard. During a retreat near Waynesboro he was practically
exhausted, and was picked up and carried to safety by Sergeant Major
James Bird, of the Effingham Hussars, who was the father of Mrs. George
Sharpe, our chapter historian.
While serving near Waynesboro, Mr. Henderson won marked honor as told
in the following letter quoted from Mrs. Atwood, wife of one of the
captains in the regiment:
“A Brave Color
Bearer”
An incident of
conspicuous daring is told of W. M. Henderson of the cavalry troop
which, with the “McIntosh cavalry”, formed the fifth squadron of the
Fifth Georgia regiment of cavalry. This young man almost a boy in
years, but endowed with all the heroic valor of his southern ancestry,
was acting flag bearer of his brigade. When the brigade, overpowered by
numbers, was retreating in hot haste, he, inspired with the courage born
of a just cause, stopped and, turning his horse to face the enemy, used
his flag staff as a weapon, with which he dismounted the adjutant of the
Ninth Michigan regiment, capturing him and his horse and bridle and
saddle, two fine army revolvers, saber and belt. The saber belt was a
very fine one, much nicer than any used in our army, and was given as a
trophy to General R. H. Anderson. The Yankees were repulsed and young
Henderson was handed next morning a promotion for “brilliant and
conspicuous bravery on the field of battle.”
After the retirement
of Captain Hendry, under whom Mr. Henderson enlisted, Captain G. B. Best
was elected to the captaincy: Captain Best was killed at Waynesboro,
Ga., while he was standing talking to Mr. Henderson about the brave feat
of Mr. Henderson in capturing the officer of the Ninth Michigan
regiment. He fought under General Joe Wheeler near Marietta, Ga., in an
army of 85,000 against 120,000 of the enemy.
His impression of
Atlanta, written in a letter to his sweetheart, who was afterwards his
wife, “Atlanta is a nasty, muddy little town.” He was at Green Pond,
S.C., without tents or any comforts—said—“we had three turkeys and a
rooster for Christmas dinner, three of the boys appropriated them from
somebody’s hen roost.”
Furloughs were scarce
those days, hardships and short rations were the most they had. His
regiment did picket duty on the rice fields near Savannah, and it was
during this time that Causey Overstreet was wounded, which wound
eventually caused his death.
“There were about
sixteen men from this section who were members of the same Bulloch
troop, and John R. Evans and myself are the only ones living today—March
13, 1922.”
Doing picket duty in
North Carolina, while exchanging shot with the Yanks, the fence he was
standing behind was struck several times, one ball lodging in a rail
directly in front of him. Had it come through it would undoubtedly have
wounded him seriously.
After serving his beloved south as long as she needed him,
giving his best at all times and under all conditions, with all his
loyalty and unswerving attention to duty, he came home and married Miss
Annie Brown, of Buena Vista, Ga., and reared a large family. Children
and grandchildren delight to do him honor.
From The Atlanta Constitution, possibly 1922.
Transcribed from original clipping by Carole Farr Drexel,
drexel410@charter.net, a great great granddaughter of Wm. M.
Henderson and his wife, Cynthia Ann Gray Brown Henderson. They were
married shortly after the end of the war, according to the Henderson
family Bible record, October 18, 1865. He died April 17, 1932,
and is buried at the old Oak Grove Methodist Church cemetery with the
rest of his family. 2-24-2004
LETTERS
Camp
Cummings
March 21, 1862
Affectionate One:
As I am going up town in the morning I will
send you a few lines to her the chief object of all my thoughts. I here
send you a ring will you except it as sealing our engagement? Write to
me as soon as you receive this, for it seems like years since I’ve heard
from you.
I am in camp seven
miles from Savannah on the Shelb road. I belong to a cavalry company. We
have all the advance _________ to do: we picket Skidaway Island and we
sometimes exchange shot. We have a shell weighing sixty-four pound. We
dug out of the battery thrown in by the enemy last Monday. They have
three or four vessels in sight. We are all eager to give them a little
fight.
I met Dollie and
Cramford in town the other day and neither one knew me for some time.
They would have we to go to their camp with them. Is Alberta up their or
is she in Savannah
Tell Sis I have
received her letter. I suppose Frank is going to try soldiering again. I
wish he was down here with me. I have got seven months longer to stay in
the service, though I expect to reenlist at the expiration of that time.
I suppose it is no use to tell you I am a good boy you already know
that. No more at present. Leave my love to all, and except the love of a
devoted lover for your sweet self. W. M. Henderson
Address your letter
Wm. M. Henderson
2nd Battalion 5th Ga cavalry
Savannah, Ga
Box 767
In “Bivouac” near
Marietta,
Geo
June 16th 1864
My Dear
Annie:
To vanish all gloom I will drop you a few lines giving you my
wharebouts. We arrived at Marietta on the 7th and to receive
our horses we were sent to our present “Bivouac” which is (5) five miles
from Marietta. Gen'l. Wheeler will take us in the field in three or
four days. Our army is four miles from Marietta and estimated at 85
thousand; that of the enemy 125 thousand. We are receiving pretty sharp
skirmishes more or less every day. I am very anxious to get to the
front. I am extremely fond of active service, and anxious to get in to
a little brush with the rascals, and if they don’t brush me out pretty
soon beyond a doubt I will some of them. I believe it is the general
expression Johnson will fall still father back. I have the utmost
confidence in Johnson but think he retreated far enough; it may be one
of his strategic moves. I hope it may be. The cannons are keeping a
tremendous roaring this morning.
It made me feel quite melancholy the night we Bivouact
in the campfire of the Geo. Military Institute; it reminded me so much
of my happy school days at old Collinsworth. Ah! but I could spend
those happy moments over again.
Mr. and Mrs. Farr came to see me while I was at Augusta,
she was very lively. I do like her company so much.
I looked for cousin Laura as I passed through Atlanta but
could find no one who knew anything about her. I was so sorry that I
missed seeing her. Atlanta is a muddy, rusty little place. Tell me
what has become of Dollie and Menza. I expect they have grown to be
young men. I would like to see them so much. Dollie and Menza are
special favorites with me, as well as their dear little Auntie. Ask God
how long before I can see you and marry you. I will never be happy
until I do marry you and call you mine! I expect you think it foolish
in me to think of such and I in the immediate face of the enemy, but I
hope by the help of God to survive this cruel war and return back
to you where my long and unceasing love is dearly reciprocated. But why
should I write you such loving letters? You never write me anything
sweet. I expect you think because I am in camp I have become careless,
which is frequently the case with soldiers generally, but you never need
be afraid of me loosing or showing any of your letters when I won’t show
them to my own Sister who is nearer to me than any one in service.
Dear Annie, I am tired of this war. A poor soldier
has a rough road to travel. There is only one good time with them and
that’s when they are reading a kind letter from their sweet heart.
Please write soon. I am anxious to hear from you.
Direct to Marietta 5th Geo. Cav. care Col. R. H. Anderson,
your devoted
Wm. Henderson
"THE JOUST"
or
(2nd Sergeant Henderson Dismounts and Captures the 9th Michigan
Adjutant")
by Dr Ian C. Baillie
The following letter has been re-keyed several times and may
contain some mistakes which are not Lt. Henderson's.. This letter is
printed in several different publications and was made available by
Everett W. Moriarity from Shelman Bluff in McIntosh County. The drawing
is by Dr. Ian C. Baillie of England. [Submitter Tommy Houston]
Cameron,
Ga. May 18, 1901
Mr. W. H.
Howard
Savannah,
Friend
Warren,
Yours of the 9th desiring to know what
command I belonged to during the Civil War, and the facts that led to my
promotion, has been received.
I was born and raised in Screven County, Georgia, I
came home from school and joined a battalion of cavalry commanded by
Lieutenant Co. Cummings at Isle of Hope below Savannah, at eighteen
years of age. This battalion with other cavalry companies was thrown
together and formed the 5th Georgia cavalry, commanded by
Col. Robert H. Anderson of savannah, and did cost duty, you might say,
from Jacksonville to Charleston. We joined Johnston’s Army at Kennesaw
Mountain. We were then thrown into brigade, our Col R. H. Anderson made
Brigadier General, Col Edward Bird of Effingham County, Col of the
regiment and R. J. Davant at that time from Savannah, Lt. Col., and
added to Joe Wheeler’s Corps. General Anderson was wounded at Vernon by
McCook’s cavalry, while our army was ‘round Atlanta, Stoneman and McCook
made a dash to our rear, and McCook was annihilated and Stoneman
captured near Macon. Wheeler’s Cavalry formed all the resistance, if
really you could call it resistance, that Sherman’s Army had from
Atlanta to Savannah, but we did one thing at least, we made their
Cavalry stick under close cover of their Infantry. Now to the facts
that led to my promotion. About a half mile below Wainsboro our brigade
was thrown into line to attack a portion of the Yankee Cavalry; I was
then acting brigade color-bearer (the color- bearer Walthour being
absent) and their Cavalry charged us, and the Adjutant of the 9th
Michigan regiment came through our lines and I dismounted him by jabbing
him from his horse with the flag staff. I made him my prisoner, and
took his horse bridle and saddle, two fine Army revolvers, sabre and
belt. The sabre belt was a very fine one much nicer than any used in
our Army, and I made it a present to Gen. R. H. Anderson. We repulsed
the charge of the Yankees, but they being supported by infantry we had
to retreat, and just as we entered the streets of Wainsboro, I stepped
up beside my Captain Geo. B. Best poor fellow, he remarked to me, “I
took two shots at that Yank before you got him” The words had bravely
been spoken when a bullet hit him on the back of the head and killed
him, he dying some time during the night. Captain Best was a Mason and
wore a large Masonic ring. He fell into the hands of some of their
doctors who were Masons, and we learned that they gave him all the care
that it was possible to give. The next morning at Roll Call I was
handed a promotion for “brilliant and conspicuous gallantry on the field
of battle”, from Gen. R. H. Anderson. Up to this time I was 2nd
Sergeant of Company “E”.
I went through the war without being wounded, got very
hungry at times, and the toughest meal I tried to eat during the war,
was a roasted pumpkin without salt. We surrendered in N. C. came home
and found our place burned and torn to pieces by Sherman’s Army,
reconciled myself and went to work.
Very Truly,
W. M. Henderson
From another letter!!
"I was color bearer in my company. Well, the fight began near the
little creek below here -- McIntosh, and we fought all over the field to
the right. It was in that field that I dismounted an adjutant of a
Michigan regiment with my flag-staff and would have killed him if it had
not bent double. Afterwards I was glad I did not kill him for he was a
handsome fellow. In a few minutes, I began to retreat and had reached
the town and were right in front of Dr. Whitehead's home. I was standing
shoulder to shoulder to Captain Bess when he fell mortally wounded.
Being the color bearer I always felt that he received the shot
intended for me. We could not stop to remove him, but we heard that some
of the enemy picked him up and carried him into the house. That night,
we camped near Briar Creek -- I think it was nearly Christmas time."
Source: unknown
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DEATH
OF CAPT. W. M. HENDERSON
Captain W.
M. Henderson, age 89, died at his residence at Dover at 6 o’clock
Sunday morning after about a week’s illness. Captain Henderson was one
of the four remaining Confederate veterans of Screven county. He has
for years been commander of Screven Camp No. 1059 of United
Confederate Veterans. He was the oldest living member of Oak Grove
Methodist church which he had served as steward for more than seventy
years, and during his entire stewardship, had only missed one quarterly
conference. He was also a great influence in the business and political
life of Screven county. Funeral services were held at Oak Grove
Methodist church near Dover Monday afternoon it 4 o’clock with Rev. B.
A. Martin, pastor of the church, officiating. Rev. Martin was assisted
by Presiding Elder C. M. Meeks and Rev. H. S. McCall. Pall
bearers were grandsons of the deceased namely, William
Hollingsworth, Carroll Farr, Harry Farr, Bloom Evans, Rauers Cunningham,
and Dr. J. C. Cail. Honorary pallbearers were the stewards of the four
Methodist churches of the Rocky Ford charge and the United Daughters of
the Confederacy. Interment was in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Captain
Henderson is survived by the following children; Mrs. J. A. Evans, of
Sylvania; Mrs. Annie H. Farr, Mrs. Winton Overstreet, Mrs. R. E.
Hollingsworth, and Miss Lottie Henderson, all of Dover.
- — -
STATESBORO, Ga, April 17.— (1932)
Capt. William Michael Henderson, who died near Dover Sunday,
was one of the three surviving member of the 0ld Bulloch troops of War
Between the States fame.
Southeast
Georgia does not have a more stately character than Captain
Henderson, one of the section’s most prominent and substantial men,
Capt. Henderson was reared in Bulloch county and is a descendent of the
Young and Jones families who settled here receiving a land grant from
Great Britain, for many years Capt. Henderson has lived at the old
Henderson home place on the Louisville road, one which runs
parallel to the Ogeechee river one mile north. The home is two miles
from Dover. The distinguished old Southerner though had passed 88 years
of age was as straight as the day he rode in the Confederate battle
lines.
Capt. Henderson was the color bearer for the old Bulloch
troops known as Company 1, of the Fifth Georgia Cavalry. He, Taylor
DeLoach of this county, and John Neal, of Thomasville were the only
three surviving members of this famous troop. At the battle of
Waynesboro Capt. Henderson held the flag while federal troops fired upon
the colors when the captain of the troop was killed. Plans have been
made for a reunion of these veterans to be held in Statesboro, on
Memorial Day, April 26, at which time the flag of the company carried by
Captain Henderson will be presented to Bulloch county.
The early
life of Capt. Henderson reads like fiction and his escapades during the
war are equally as interesting. His grandfather was one of the largest
slave holders in this section, and the many tales told of his boyhood on
the farm are most interesting. Capt. Henderson’s son, William Junior,
was for a long time connected with the Atlanta Constitution.
From a newspaper
clipping that appeared in the Bulloch County, Georgia newspaper the week
of April 17, 1932. Transcribed by Carole Farr Drexel 2-24-2004.
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