DUANE
Duane's take
The way I tell it, I'm drawing straight from the official marker — so here's the story as it stands, word and deed. Now, most tales of the Civil War center on generals, on grand charges, on flags and cannon smoke. But tucked into a marker out in Williamson County, Texas, is the story of two brothers — and brothers is the right word in more ways than one.
Edward and John Hudson. Presbyterian ministers both. Teachers both.
They came down from Arkansas to Texas in 1856, put down roots in Williamson County, and went to work among the people here. When the war came, they didn't stay home. Edward went first.
March of 1862, he joined Company G of the 6th Regiment, Confederate army. By October of that same year, he was at the Battle of Corinth — and he was wounded there. Now here's where the story turns on itself: the man who had been serving as chaplain was killed in that very same battle.
Edward Hudson, still carrying his own wound, was made chaplain to take that man's place. You sit with that for a moment. He kept going.
August of 1864, he's on duty in Georgia — and he's shot again. Critically wounded this time. The marker says he was left crippled.
And yet. He came back to Texas, and he preached, and he taught, moving through various counties, until shortly before his death on August 17, 1877. That man gave everything he had, and then gave a little more.
His brother John enlisted in April of 1862 — Company H, 19th Texas Cavalry. Commissioned as chaplain in March of 1863, he served in that role for the rest of the war. And when the war was done, John Hudson came back to Williamson County and preached here for many years, living long enough to die on February 22, 1914.
Both brothers are buried in Round Rock Cemetery. Now, what did a chaplain actually do out there? The marker doesn't let you romanticize it into something simple.
A chaplain drew the same pay and rations as a private — which is to say, not much. And in return, he held religious services, yes, but also taught men to read and write who'd never had the chance. He counseled.
He visited the sick. He handled the mail. He wrote letters for men who couldn't write them, and read letters aloud to men who couldn't read.
And when the fighting was done for the day and the ground was still — he went out onto that battlefield and helped remove the dead and the wounded. He performed baptisms. He performed funerals.
Over and over and over again. The marker notes something that stops you cold: Edward and John Hudson may have been the only brothers from Texas enrolled in this service together. Two men from the same family, answering the same call, doing some of the hardest and least-celebrated work of that war — and both of them making it back to the county they'd called home since 1856.
They came to Texas as teachers and ministers. They left for war as the same. And they're still here, side by side, in Round Rock Cemetery — which, when you think about it, is exactly where brothers ought to be.
What the marker says
Brothers, teachers, Presbyterian ministers. Came to Texas from Arkansas, 1856. Worked and lived in this county. Both are buried in Round Rock Cemetery. In the Civil War, Rev. Edward Hudson in March 1862 joined Co. G, 6th Regiment, Confederate army. Wounded Oct. 1862 in battle of Corinth, was made chaplain afterwards, to succeed man killed in that same battle. In Aug. 1864, on duty in Georgia, was shot and critically wounded. Though crippled, preached and taught in various Texas counties until shortly before his death, Aug. 17, 1877. Rev. John Hudson enlisted in April 1862 in Co. H 19th Texas Cavalry. Commissioned in March 1863, he served as chaplain for the rest of the war. After preaching here for many years, died Feb. 22, 1914. On same pay and rations as privates, a chaplain had multiple duties: religious services, teaching men to read and write, counseling, sick visits, handling the mail, writing letters and reading to illiterates, removal of dead and wounded from the battlefield, baptisms, funerals. The Hudsons may have been only Texas brothers enrolled in this valuable Confederate service. (1964)