Durden Ancestor
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Lieutenant Dennis L. Durden 

 

 

The above Confederate Veteran is the most honored ancestor of Hugh Durden, presently the Commander of Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 469 in Rome, Ga. Born in 1843, Dennis L Durden was a 4th Sergeant on March 4, 1862 and was elected Jr 2nd Lieutenant on January 2, 1863. He was wounded at Weldon Railroad, Va on June 22, 1864 and died from those wounds on August 2, 1864. He is buried at Petersburg, Va.

    What follows are several letters between Lt Durden and his sister and brother. Contrary to what contemporary people may think, it is obvious from the following letters that, while the war wasat the forefront of their minds, the thought of family was never far away.

 

                        

Camp Near Guinea Station, Va

May 8, 1863

 

Dear sister,

As I have just returned to camp having been absent from them since April 28, and going through the most desperate battle that has been fought since this horrible war broke out and driving the enemy back with great slaughter from every position. I feel overjoyed in writing the good news to you. Though I am so broken down from loss of sleep and hard marching I shall not try to give you any but the particulars of our company, for eventually you will see the papers and find out more about it than I can tell you for all I have been in it from the commencement of it until the end and know nothing of the losses on either side of killed or prisoners. But there is one thing I know, we have driven them back on the other side of the river and I am in hopes they will stay there. 

Dear Sister, I am glad to tell you we have not lost nere man killed out of our camp and but four wounded, W. T. Phillips, Norman Edenfield, Hiram Nunn, and Joshua Kirkland. All very slight. There was several more of the boys struck but not hurt. Our Regiment was in the fight Friday, Saturday, Sunday at Chancellorsville and Monday at Fredericksburg. We have killed the Yankees in piles and lost rite smart of our men though not half like the yanks. There has been rite smart killed in our regiment but thank the Almighty God I have come out safe again not a scratch on me. Sister, I am glad to say it for they rained the shell and shot thick as rain round me. Every moment that came I thought was my last and the minutes seemed like hours. I think we have convinced the Yankees enough for them to stop it. 

Sister, I heard from Noah & Berrien to say they was both well and getting along finely. They said they had nothing to do. Betty, it has rained the most here for the last three day it has since I've been here and it is raining now. I must close as I am so sleepy I cannot write. Give all my love & tell them I have been spared to go through safe. Betty, how is all the girls getting along in old Emanuel. Give them my best respects tell them I haven't forgotten them yet. Be sure & write me soon all the news.

I remain your loving brother until death. Write soon. 

D. L. Durden 

(May 9th 1863) 

P.S. All is quiet & well this morning. It has faired off & the sun is shining beautifully. It makes me think of bright May mornings I've seen at home. Oh! how I wish I was there with you all how happy would I be. Betty it is reported General Jackson has his left arm shot off. I mighty hate it for there is none other such a man in the Confederate States. G. E. Sutton has been gone to the hospital in Lynchburg, Va. some time. I heard from him yesterday. He is getting well so he said. Betty how are crops back home? You got anybody to help you carry on your farm? Who is staying with Berrien's Jane to help her. I wish I could be home at General meeting, but wishing all in vain I will come the first chance. 

Good by 

D. L. Durden  

 
 
 

              Second North Carolina Hospital

              Petersburg,Va. July 20, 1864 

c/o Mrs. N. M. Brinson

      Dear Brother,

I embrace the opportunity today of writing you a few lines which leaves me slowly improving from the wound which I received the 23rd of June last. My wound is situated on my left ankle on the outer side. It is cleaned off this morning very well, it bled a good deal a few days since and was not undone until this morning. Since it bled it looks healthier today than before it bled. You need not look for me until you see me coming for it may be many days before I can able to come home on a furlough. We have had some fine raining here for a day or so after a most long and a protracted drought. I hear it is very wet and raining in Georgia this season. I hope there will be fine crops made in the country and I hope to be able to come home before fruits are all gone as watermelons, peaches, and apples. The report is this morning that Grant is dead and that his army is retreating from before Petersburg. I hope it is so and I hope the war and fighting will soon be over and all who are living go home again. A great many of our best men are dead and a great many crippled. My treatment here is very good and I have a surgeon from my own regiment attending on me at which I am pleased.

You wrote to me you had some grapes for me. If I cannot get home by the time they are ripe I wish you to try and get me some someway when I come home. When you write direct your letters to the regiment as I see some of the company nearly every day and I can get them as well as though they were directed to this hospital. Tell the rest to do the same. 

              Your Brother Very Truly and affectionately

              D. L. Durden 

               

(note: D. L. Durden was killed at the Battle of Petersburg 6-22-1864)

 

Family of Dennis L. Durden 

Father: Dennis Durden

Date of birth: 10 May 1802 Date of death: 25 . May 1876 

Place of birth: Wilkes County, Georgia

Place of death: Emanuel Co., GA

Place of burial: Durden Cemetery

Mother: Phoebe Dillard

Date of birth: 26 Feb 1807 Date of death: 26 Apr 1874

Place of birth: Georgia

Place of death: Emanuel Co., GA

Place of burial: Durden Cemetery

Date of marriage: 1824

Children of Phoebe Dillard and Dennis Durden

  1. Rowan William Durden
  2. Albert Neal Durden
  3. Elizabeth Durden
  4. Mary Ann Durden
  5. Nancy Durden
  6. Demeris Jane Durden
  7. Berrien Walter Durden
  8. Francis Durden
  9. Dennis L. Durden
  10. Fair J. Durden
  11. Algerine (Allie) Trapnell Durden

(From Muster Roll)

Durden, Dennis L.- 4th Sergeant March 4, 1862. Elected Jr. 2d Lieutenant, January 30 1863. Wounded at Weldon Railroad, Va. June 22, 1864. Died from wounds August 2, 1864. Buried at Petersburg, Va. (Born in 1843.) 

 

The Southern Dead

By Benjamin R. Gormley 

The Southern Dead are sleeping

In a thousand Southern glens…

The moss and willows beckon

With the breath of Southern winds. 

Though the blood-stained cross of St. Andrew

Is tattered now and furled…

They bore it high on every field

And o’er every ocean of the world 

It wasn’t through their failing

That the gleaming turned to rust…

And the dreaming of a Nation

Is enshrined within their dust. 

Some would have their deeds forgot,

Their monuments swept away…

But while Southern blood flows in our veins,

Those knaves shall never see the day. 

Teach your children of their story,

Of battles, lost and won…

They must keep memory’s light a-burning

Till Southern rivers cease to run. 

Southern dead are sleeping. 

 

In Memorium

Lieutenant Dennis L. Durden 

Co. H, 48 th Georgia

McLeod Volunteers

 

 

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