From the Bucks County Intelligencer, December 29, 1863:

Friend Editors:- It is with much regret that I have to announce the
untimely death of this good and kind friend to the stranger. My friends
will recollect a short account which I gave through the public papers
something over a year ago, concerning my sojourn in the town of Leesburg, in
the State of Virginia, while taking care of my sick son. Until I obtained
permission to remove him from the hospital, I obtained permission for myself
and son-in-law to home with the above-named gentleman, in a pleasant
dwelling in the outskirts of the town. Though professing to feel and act
with the rebels, himself, wife and kind daughters did everything within
their power to make us happy and comfortable, with a manifest disposition,
if need be, to protect us, also manifesting a deep interest for my afflicted
son, by offering and doing every kindness within their reach for his relief
and comfort, for which I will ever hold them in grateful remembrance.
By a private letter received from a dear friend in the same neighborhood,
I have the sad intelligence, that recently, while two Federal soldiers were
sharing his hospitalities by way of taking supper with him, two ruffian
rebels rushed in, with pistols in hand, demanding a surrender. With that
promptness so natural to his kind heart he peremptorily refused, and rushed
to snatch the weapon from the hand of one assassin, while the other shot him
through the heart, when he fell dead on the spot, leaving a dear wife and
tender family to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father, the main stay
of a happy home circle. One of the Federals was wounded--hen the rebels
rushed out again, stole the Federals' two horses, and thus made their
escape. I feel that this little tribute is due to so kind a friend to Union
strangers, in whose breasts the dear memory of him will forever find a
place.

John E. Kenderdine.
Lumberton, 12 month 25th, 1863.