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to mother
1865/8/21
Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?
He no longer receives the pay of a Lieutenant Colonel. He plans to leave the army in a few days. The 100th regiment is in Richmond and will be mustered out.
GLC04662.107
1865/9/7
He will stay in the South for two or three months. He has borrowed $3000 from Mr. Pratt and is investing in stock [selling horses and mules in South Carolina, see # 68 ] speculation. He has been formally relieved of duty and is anxious to get home...
GLC04662.108
1865/9/15
He has purchased his stock and will start South immediately.
GLC04662.109
1865/10/8
He is on his way to Augusta, Georgia to sell his stock. He thinks Columbia must have been a beautiful city before Sherman marched through. "There are a few fire places left yet, which serve to show what the city was, but most of the buildings are...
GLC04662.110
1865/10/1
His stock is not selling as fast as he had hoped. He thinks Darlington is the wealthiest district in the state and adds, "The people are very sesech in their proclivities and are as 'ugly as sin', as the children say."
GLC04662.111
1865/10/27
He has been renting out his teams, but will now sell them. He received a job offer from Pratt & Co. and plans to accept it.
GLC04662.112
1865/11/12
His stock is selling slowly, but he has already made enough to cover his original purchase and all his expenses. He will hold an auction and hopes to sell of the rest of the teams at that time. Hopes to be home before Christmas.
GLC04662.113
1865/11/23
Describes the damage done by union bombardment and subsequent fires. Hopes to dispose of his stock in auction. Wants to be home for Christmas.
GLC04662.114
1865/12/1
He asks his mother to buy Christmas presents for him to give to the rest of the family. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in Charleston, "But the southern people know nothing about our time honored anniversary. Thanksgiving is pre-eminently a New England...
GLC04662.115
1865/12/15
He has made $3000 in profit in the last three months. Still hopes to be home for Christmas.
GLC04662.116
1866/1/16
Describes the auctions which are occurring throughout the state. Discusses the weather, which is quite warm one day and cool the next. Also discusses the economic stagnation of the south.
GLC04662.117
1866/1/28
Does not think his family needs to worry about an outbreak of small pox near their house. He thinks his vaccination kept him from getting the disease, even though he was in the company of small pox victims on several occasions. He has been delayed...
GLC04662.118
1866/02/13
He has purchased many items at auction, including 257 army wagons. He spilled a mixture of kerosene oil and lamp black all over his face and clothes and had a horrible time trying to clean up.
GLC04662.119
1865/2/24
He is feeling homesick. Selling the mules and wagons is taking a long time. He writes of a girl from home, Katie Pratt, whom he is interested in and who his mother thinks would be a good choice for a wife. Yet he will not marry until he is...
GLC04662.120
1866/3/3
He has a 22 hour lay over while waiting for a train. He plans to go to Macon, and Savannah, Georgia before catching a steamer bound for New York. The family oil well has made "a fair show." He can not wait to come home and work.
GLC04662.122
1866/8/8
He writes of the health of family members in the city, discusses repairs made to family property, and attended an organ concert at Henry Ward Beecher's church.
GLC04662.124
1864/12
He encloses $30 and contains a list for the dispersal of the money as Christmas gifts. Date inferred from information in letter # 85.
GLC04662.125
to Minnie
1865/6/10
Writes to his sister about the discharge of troops, including Leon Brown. Mentions the garden back home and that he does not think he will get a furlough.
GLC04662.126
to Louise Walbridge
18 April 1862
Discusses marching orders, his impression of Warwick, and building a road to Yorktown.
GLC04663.02
13 June 1862
Advises his sister not to teach any longer, managing the property and defends his brigade from attacks resulting from their performance at Fair Oaks. He also tells of wounded men who lay on the battlefield for three days and who claimed to have been...
GLC04663.03
14 June 1862
Mentions Stuart's raid at Tunstall's Station.
GLC04663.04
17 July 1862
He estimates the Confederate army at 200,000. There have been thunderstorms every night for several days, yet the days have been sunny.
GLC04663.05
12 October 1862
Notes he saw a girl from home in Alexandria. Discusses the fate of friends, the weather and two photographs that have disappeared.
GLC04663.08
8 November 1862
Writes of the cold weather and a recent snowfall. Notes he ixed up his tent for the winter months and has received gloves from mother.
GLC04663.09
15 November 1862
Tells how a Southern woman tried to burn down her house rather than let the North use it for a hospital. Also speculates on the possibility of foreign war, reparations for damages caused by a pirate, invasion from Canada, and advice for fortifying...
GLC04663.10
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