For Surgeon of the 4th Virginia Infantry

7 3/4 x 4 1/4, imprinted form, filled out in ink.

The Southern Telegraph Companies. Outlines the "Terms and Conditions on Which Messages are Received by these Companies for Transmissions." J.R. Dowell, Gen'l Sup't, Richmond, Va. W.S. Morris, Pres't, Richmond, Va. Received Oct. 15th, 1864, By telegraph from Charlotte 15th. To Surgeon W.A. Holt, Gen. Hosp. Come home immediately. Willie is very sick. We will send to Charlotte for you Sunday. Answer. Julia A. Holt. Oper[ator] Please get answer immed[iately]. Charlotte Off[ice]. There is a small area of paper loss at the upper left corner that does not affect any of the imprint, or the content, otherwise very fine. The 4th Virginia Infantry, a regiment in the famed "Stonewall Brigade," is an extremely desirable unit to collect any material on, and surgeon related items are uncommon.

The recipient of this telegram was Surgeon William A. Holt, of the 4th Virginia Infantry, of the celebrated "Stonewall Brigade, named in honor of Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson." Holt enlisted on October 2, 1861, as Assistant Surgeon, and he was mustered into the 27th North Carolina Infantry. W.A. Holt was promoted to surgeon on September 26, 1862. He was transferred into the 4th Virginia Infantry, on January 1, 1863, before the mortal wounding of General Jackson at Chancellorsville, Va., on the evening of May 2, 1863. Sentries of the 18th North Carolina Infantry mistook General Jackson's scouting party for Union cavalry. He was out reconnoitering along the Confederate and Union lines, getting ready for the next day's battle when he was hit 3 times by a volley of musketry. Jackson died of his wounds on May 10, 1863, and the Confederacy lost one of their best fighting generals.