John Marye Hudgin

Son of wealthy lawyer Robert Hudgin, in 1860 he was a 21 year old living with his parents, 3 siblings, and 15 slaves on their plantation at Bowling Green in Caroline County, VA. After briefly attending the University of Virginia Law School, he enlisted at Pratt's Point, VA on 8 May (or 26 June) 1861 and mustered as 2nd Lieutenant of Company F, 30th Virginia Infantry on 1 July. He was elected Captain on 26 October 1861.

He was with his company at Harpers Ferry on 13-15 September, and at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862, when they were detached for independent action with a company of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry forming a "battalion" of sharpshooters. General Walker later reported of the brigade there:

Colonel Manning, with the Forty-sixth and Forty-eighth North Carolina and Thirtieth Virginia, not content with the possession of the woods, dashed forward in gallant style ... driving the enemy before him like sheep, until ... their advance was checked; ... after suffering a heavy loss, were compelled to fall back to the woods, where the Forty-sixth and Forty-eighth North Carolina Regiments were quickly reformed, but the Thirtieth Virginia, owing to some unaccountable misunderstanding of orders, except Captain Hudgin's company, went entirely off the field, and, as a regiment, was not again engaged during the day ...

Except for brief periods in hospitals in October and November 1864, and when on court martial duty in January 1865, he was with his company to their surrender and parole at Appomattox Court House, VA on 9 April 1865.

By 1870 and to at least 1880 he was a lawyer living with his parents and brother Robert back at Bowling Green, VA; his father then the County Clerk. He was an elected member of the Virginia legislature from 1869-1877 (election of 1875-77 term voided), and 1889-1892.

His service from his Compiled Service Records,1 online from fold3. His presence and role at Sharpsburg from an undated letter (1890s) he wrote battle historian Ezra Carman. Personal details from family genealogists, the US Census of 1860-1880, and a bio sketch in the CMH.2 His gravesite is on Findagrave.

The uniform frock coat he wore home from Appomattox and on later occasions is in the collection of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, VA.

01/08/1839; Caroline County, VA

02/04/1899; Caroline County, VA; burial in Lakewood Cemetery, Bowling Green, VA