Southern Virginia and Tennessee Advocate, Abingdon, VA
Obituary of George W. Hendricks

March 12, 1862 Suicide of a Conscript. A few days ago a man named G. W. Hendricks was brought from Russell county to this city, as a conscript loth to do his duty and prone to desert. He was taken before the proper authorities, where he was soon discovered to be "non compos mentis." On Sunday night he was accommodated with lodgings at the Powhatan Hotel, and on Monday morning died, from what afterward proved to be an overdose of morphene, obtained no one could tell how. His friends took charge of his body for embalment and transportation back to Russell county. We are told that the unfortunate man served at Fort Donelson, was taken prisoner there by the Yankees, cruely treated with his brother soldiers at the prison (Camp Chase,) and since his return had escaped the conscription by reason of being over thirty-five years of age, until Congress amended the law; then he attempted to put in a substitute, but failed, the substitute not being accepted. Being brought to Richmond as a conscript, the desperate act which he committed culminated his career and quited his anxieties. - Richmond Enquirer, March 4th.