This first letter of Lt. Henderson comes from Everett W. Moriarity of Shellman Bluff in McIntosh County.

The second Henderson letter (bottom) was submitted by Carole Farr Drexel (Statesboro Georgia native) currently of Fort Worth, Texas.

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

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Below is a letter believed to be written by Henderson in 1868 after the war to his wife Cynthia Annie Brown Henderson who was visiting her family in Marion County, Georgia.

Cameron Georgia, November 3, 1868

My dear Annie,

            I write you the third letter since you left me, though at the

same time I do not feel that you are deserving it.  Do you think that I

won't think of you? Or that I don't want to hear from you and my dear little

boy?  You have been gone two weeks since last night, and I have not rec'd

the scratch of a pen from you.  I feel miserable, my feeling are perfectly

indescribable.  I scarcily can contain myself.  I want to hear from you and

my sweet little boy so bad; place yourself in my position and imagine how

you would like it.

      I am just from the Election today at Marlands Mill.  Every thing

passed off very quietly.  Every vote that was polled was Democratic.  John

was the only negro that left the place and I carried him to drive the wagon.

He with several other negroes voted the Democratic ticket, in fact every

negro that voted, voted Democratically and took a receipt showing how they

voted.

I shall start out to court in the morning by daylight.  I hate to leave

home very much.  I am very busy.

I commenced making syrup today and shall miss you very much.  I have had

me a splendid mill frame built.

Mr. Wm. Cooper is still very low.  Every one thinks he hardly will

recover.

Nothing new in the neighborhood, except, Opie sent a bale of cotton to

market on last Saturday.  I don't want you to hurry your trip but I am crazy

to see you and the baby.

Give my love to all, accept thousands of love for yourself, and kiss my

sweet baby one hour for me, and if you have not written, please write at

once.  Miss Jane says she never has wanted to see any one in her life

hardily.  Pa speaks of him very often.  Your very devoted husband, William

M. Henderson