Winder George Whitefield Farthing

In 1850 he was living with his parents and siblings at Jamestown in James City County, VA. He attended Emory and Henry College (1856-58) then went west to Texas. In 1860 was a 23 year old school teacher living with wealthy physician John Branch (owner of 20 slaves) and family at Huntsville in Walker County, TX. He enlisted near Harrisburg, TX on 2 August 1861 and mustered as a Private in Company D, 5th Texas Infantry.

He was sent to a hospital in Frederick, MD on 6 September, sick, left behind, and captured there on the 12th.

He was in US Army General Hospital #1 in Frederick, MD to 18 September, afterward paroled and transferred for exchange. He arrived at Aikens' Landing, VA on 12 October 1862 and was back with his company by the end of 1862.

He was appointed 5th Sergeant in April 1863 and was wounded by a gunshot to his left leg and was captured at Gettysburg, PA on 2 July 1863. His leg was amputated at the lower third of the thigh on 7 July by US Army Surgeon Phillips, probably at the 3rd Division/5th Army Corps field hospital, and he was afterward treated at the US Army hospital at Camp Letterman near the battlefield to 14 October, then sent to the West's Buildings Hospital in Baltimore.

He was transferred to City Point, VA for exchange on 12 November and was admitted to Howard's Grove Hospital in Richmond, VA on 18 November. He was furloughed home on 14 (or 20) December and retired to the Invalid Corps for 6 months on 25 April 1864. He was assigned to the post at Charlottesville, VA and directed to attend lectures at the University of Virginia there. He was back in a Richmond hospital for a re-examination in October 1864 and his retirement was extended.

In 1870 he was Clerk of the Circuit and County Court at Williamsburg in York County, VA but in 1873 inherited the 200 acre "Breezeland" farm near Lightfoot in James City County from his father, and farmed there to at least 1880. He was appointed Judge of the James City and Williamsburg Court in 1886 and was still serving on the bench at his death at age 55 in 1891.

His service from his Compiled Service Records,1 online from fold3. He's also on the Confederates In Frederick List.2 Personal details from family genealogists, the US Census of 1850-1880, and the Emory & Henry College Annual Catalogues of 1856-7, 1857-58. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Edith Mae Power (1852-1928) in November 1873 and they had 8 children by 1891.

11/14/1836 in VA

11/29/1891; James City County, VA; burial in Olive Branch Christian Church Cemetery, Norge, VA