21
Johnson’s
Island Ohio
Feby
10th 1864
My Dear Wife,
Again I write you
from this place. I had hoped ere this to
meet you, once more, at our dear home.
But in times like these one can not foresee. Still I am patient, hopeful, & full of
cheer. I have bad news. A letter, to day, from McCathren [?], who is
now at Point Lookout, informs me that, Judson Hargroves died at Fort Delaware
of Small Pox, not long since. This is
painful news to me. He was a pet of
mine, & I cherished him for his manly bearing, his unspotted integrity,
& his pure, & upright character.
He was a boy of good mind, & fair promise – & the Sergt Maj of
our Regt. by my recommendation. Let some
one send an obituary to the press.
Inform his father of the facts, as I have stated them. I fear it is but too true.
Yesterday four
hundred officers were taken from this prison – whither they were sent, we know
not. We expect to be sent soon -- Hope it is for exchange –
My health
continues very fine. I have now a
comfortable room, plenty of blankets etc. – Mr. Nott wrote me on the 4th
inst – All his family were well. He
sends love to his brother & family –
He sent me some nice butter, cheese, ham, crackers, sardines, jam etc. –
They were very nice – He also sent me a chessboard. Ashton is here, & has been here 3 ½
months. Cunningham was sent off
yesterday. He was well. Ashton is in good health. Kiss my dear son, let Ma know that, I am well & enjoying
myself as well as could be expected under the circumstances. Tell Judge Palmer I have an excellent present
for him if I can get it through the lines when I come. One for son too and Sis Julia. Maj Wilson says he is coming to see me when
we get home. I have told him I was good
looking. Good by – your devoted husband
– Stephen A Corker, Capt & Prisoner War
[with envelope]
http://www.3gvi.org/ga3vetmccathern.html
http://genealogytrails.com/geo/burke/bios.htm
McCathern, Walker, ex-mayor of Waynesboro, a representative planter and merchant of Burke county, and one of the stanch and valiant soldiers of the Confederacy during the Civil war, was born on the Hughes’ plantation, ten miles distant from Waynesboro, in Burke county, Feb. 10, 1840, being a son of Daniel and Anna (Ingram) McCathern, the former of whom was born in Scotland and the latter in Richmond county, Georgia. When he was but seven years of age his father died, but his mother lived to attain the age of seventy-five years. Mr. McCathern was reared on the plantation and received his education in the schools of Richmond county. In April, 1861, at the age of twenty-one years, he entered the Confederate service, enlisting as a private in Company A, Third Georgia volunteer infantry. He enjoys the unique distinction of having captured the first Federal gunboat secured by a Confederate command after the outbreak of the war, this incident having occurred at Roanoke island, N. C., where he was in charge of a thirty-two-pound gun and where, with the support of his regiment, he captured the gunboat “Fannie,” manned with seventy men, while 1,000 overcoats were also among the trophies secured on the boat. He took part in the Seven Days’ battles in front of Richmond; the second battle of Manassas, and the engagements at Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and Petersburg. He was wounded at Malvern Hill and was twice wounded at Hatcher’s Run, in front of Petersburg, receiving the two wounds almost simultaneously. He was first shot through the body, and as he was falling another shot penetrated his neck, either would having been sufficient to probe fatal had he not promptly been accorded skillful surgical and medical aid. At Belfield, N. C., he was again wounded. He was captured by the enemy and was imprisoned at Fort Delaware, but five days later he contrived to make his escape, prying off a board in the prison and crawling through the aperture. He then swam in an angling way down the Delaware river, a distance of nine miles, utilizing empty and tightly sealed canteens as life preservers and making his way across the river, four miles wide at that point. In this intrepid act he had but one companion, his comrade George C. Tanner, of the Cobb Georgia legion. He was recaptured near Harper’s Ferry, however, and returned to Fort Delaware, later being sent to Point Lookout, where he was confined five months, when he managed to effect a second escape. He rejoined his regiment in time to take part in the battle of the Wilderness and thereafter served until the close of the war. It is needless to say that he is an appreciative member of the United Confederate Veterans. Since the war Mr. McCathern has continued to reside in Burke county, where he has valuable plantation interests and is successfully engaged in the raising of cotton and other products, also conducting a general store on his plantation. He has maintained his home in the city of Waynesboro since 1880, and has served as its mayor three terms, while he is held in high esteem in the community which has represented his home from the time of his nativity. He is a Master Mason and a member of the Baptist church. On Feb. 23, 1868, Mr. McCathern was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Chandler, daughter of William and Jane (Darlington) Chandler, of Burke county, and they have six children living: William Walker, George Mitz, Otis Adair, Porter Fleming, John Jenks, and Albert Sydney Johnston. There were five others, all of whom died before reaching maturity.
[Source: Georgia Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Vol 2, Publ 1906. Transcribed by Renae Donaldson]
