Union County Historical Society
Blairsville, Georgia
A letter written in 1861 from Union County:
Governor Brown,
[at the state capital in Milledgeville]
I received a letter from Capt. Huggins of Union County informing me of the completion of his company ["Young Cane Volunteers"] and of their readyness and desire to go into immediate [Confederate] service. Most of his men have been drilled frequently for several months past, having first belonged to Capt. Patterson's company ["Union Invincibles"] more than a year since, and also having enlisted previously with a view to entering the service for twelve months. It would not be too safe to say they are well drilled but I think it would be safe.
C. J. Wellborn
• “Capt. Huggins of Union County” was James H. Huggins, Union County’s Delegate to the Georgia Secession Convention.
• “C.J. Wellborn” of Union County was the newly appointed “Commissary General” of the State of Georgia. He was also the son of William P. Wellborn, Union County’s other Secession Delegate.
• “Governor Brown” was from the Gaddistown area in Union county.
Both Delegates voted against Secession. However they signed Georgia Ordnance of Secession.
• J.H. Huggins went on to command the Confederate 23rd Georgia Volunteer Infantry regiment. During the war, he was wounded and also was a P.O.W. He is buried in Oconee Hill in Athens, Georgia.
• C.J. Wellborn is buried in the ???.
• W.P. Wellborn died during the war and is buried in the old Blairsville City Cemetery.
• Joseph E. Brown Brown is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta.