J.H. Hudson was probably Joshua H. Hudson of the 26th SC Infantry and later a state judge. I didn't see Francis Austin on the rolls for that regiment, though.

In your message, you quoted someone writing "our 25th" which sounds like the writer and Mr. Austin were together in a 25th regiment (25th South Carolina(?) Infantry, Cavalry, etc.). If we can match that writer to a regiment, maybe Mr. Austin can be associated with it as well. Who wrote that?

You might contact the Georgia Archives and see if they have a Confederate pension application for Francis Austin. Or, one for his widow as she may have filed for one as well. The applicants had to give the name of the regiment in which they served, so that may be an avenue for you.

Otherwise, he may have just "tagged along" and was never "officially" added to the regiment's rolls. It happened.

Scott