1862/3/30

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Describes a miserable march from Washington to Alexandria. A bivouac site on marshy land and a cold rain prompted soldiers to seek other places to sleep, including a tomb. Discusses rations for the troops and his dining at private homes. Inquires whether one of the family houses has been rented yet.

GLC04662.004

1862/8/25

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

He is feeling better and expects to return to his unit in about a week. Since he does not know where they are, he will have to go to Washington to learn their location. A gang of men are putting up a large building, which Walbridge thinks may be a very large hospital. [The men may have been building the prisoner of war camp that would open on the island.] He claims it is a fine location in the summer but imagines the winter would be rather bleak.

GLC04662.013

1862/9/11

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

He is waiting to join up with his regiment. Due to the expense of staying in the city, he had to release his servant, a contraband from Virginia. He thinks the rebels are in a precarious situation in Maryland and adds that as long as the war lasts, business will be good in Buffalo.

GLC04662.014

1854

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Speeches of Gerrits Smith. In Congress, 1853-'4.

Published by Buell and Blanchard. Includes speeches by Smith on war, the homestead bill, the Nebraska bill, the Pacific Railroad, the postal system, the reciprocity treaty, and the sale of intoxicating drinks in Washington, D.C., among other topics. Bound with a green paper cover.

GLC04717.02

13 March 1856

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: Speech of Gerrit Smith in the Kansas meeting, at the capitol in Albany, March 13th 1856.

At the Capitol in Albany. Criticizes Missouri aid societies that offer large bounties to proslavery inhabitants of Kansas. Deplores the allowance of slavery in Missouri, referring to the Missouri Compromise as liberty bargaining with slavery. Also condemns violation of the Compromise. Declares, "The right ballots could kill slavery this year. But delay a few years, and it will take bayonets to do it."

GLC04717.25

1862/3/10

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Camped at Park Barracks in front of the Astor House. The regiment has orders to be ready to march, but no one is sure exactly when they will move out. He briefly mentions sight-seeing in the city and gives the whereabouts of other relatives in the city.

GLC04662.002

1862/4/20

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Writes from camp Scott that his regiment has not been paid yet. He believes his brother George is not healthy enough to be a soldier. Discusses the condition of his clothing, says he gets along well with the other officers, and hopes that one day he will be commissioned in the regular army. He says it is wonderful to receive letters from home. Responding to them "seems almost like talking with you."

GLC04662.005

1862/6/1

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Battle of Seven Pines [Fair Oaks] Lists the officers killed, wounded, and captured. He estimates that his regiment lost over 200. He has been made acting quartermaster.

GLC04662.006

1862/6/14

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

His regiment is resting for the first time since they left Camp Scott. A band of "guerrillas" [Stuart's cavalry] attacked the railroad at Tunstall's station. Discusses his duties as a quartermaster. He now wears a private's uniform with shoulder straps and warns his mother that he looks "a little rough." He encloses a letter for Louise [GLC 4663, # 4].

GLC04662.007

1862/6/20

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

A short visit to the front line, followed by a visit to the Commissary Sergeant, Bowen, who has commandeered a plantation. The owners fled and the slaves want Bowen to run the farm. Walbridge describes the house, food and slaves on plantation. Also, during a visit to a neighboring plantation, the owner's wife told Walbridge: "Most of their crops are uncultivated, as all the 'niggers' have left for White House [Va.] to earn an honest penny or two for themselves; except for two, one of whom had a very sick wife in the spring when the rest left, who has since died, A very valuable woman,…

GLC04662.008

1862/7/3

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

They are currently camped at the birth place of William Henry Harrison. The house has been turned into a hospital. Stonewall Jackson turned the right flank of the Union Army, captured White House, Va and forced the retreat of the army. Many of the men are sick and wounded but the doctor and the steward have surrendered to the Confederates in order to care for captured wounded. He sent money home by a previous mail.

GLC04662.009

1862/7/12

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

He asks his mother to send various articles of clothing and leather goods such as sword belts, boots and a holster. The regimental quartermaster is returning so Walbridge may have to return to his company. Describes an officer's dinner and a visit to a local plantation where the overseer complained about Union troops taking all the grain. He encloses a Secesh pay roll and buttons, confederate money, and a court deposition dated 1689, which he took from Warwick Court House [none of these items are included in the collection].

GLC04662.010

1862/8/4

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

The regiment is electing a colonel. He is still a quartermaster.

GLC04662.011

1862/8/18

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

He has taken ill with Cholera Morbus and is in the hospital. Describes the facilities, including a hotel and cottages which have been taken over by the hospital. Hopes to rejoin his regiment soon. He thinks McClellan is "played out" and that Pope and Banks are doing a good job.

GLC04662.012

1862/9/27

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

His return to the regiment with 100 new recruits from Alexandria. Thanks his mother and other family members for their letters.

GLC04662.015

1862/10/11

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

He has been recommended for a commission. Mentions a brigade drill and an upcoming undress parade, where the regiment will line up, without arms and with clean underwear in their haversacks, march to the river and undress for bathing. The regiment has not been paid since the 30th of April.

GLC04662.016

1847

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Letter of Gerrit Smith to S.P. Chase, on the unconstitutionality of every part of American slavery

Published by S. W. Green, Patriot Office. Letter was written at Peterboro, New York 1 November 1847. Chase recently disagreed with Smith's resolution at the National Convention of the Liberty party that slavery is unconstitutional. Argues that the Constitution "enjoins the abolition of every part of American slavery."

GLC04717.01

1851

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: The true office of civil government. A speech in the city of Troy.

Printed by S. W. Benedict. Smith declares, "The legitimate action of Civil Government is very simple. Its legitimate range is very narrow. Government owes nothing to its subjects but protection... from crimes... committed against their persons and possessions." Also argues against the union of Church and State and discusses tariffs.

GLC04717.03

1855

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Controversy between New-York Tribune and Gerrit Smith.

Printed by John A. Gray. Correspondence covers the Tribune's report that Smith was absent from the House of Representatives on the evening of the passage of the Nebraska Bill. The Tribune recently acknowledged Smith was present, and voted against the bill. Smith complains that the Tribune's acknowledgement of the facts came much too late. Bound in a peach colored paper cover.

GLC04717.04

1859

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Three discourses on the religion of reason.

Covers, among other topics, the reflection of God in man and man's role and responsibility concerning religion.

GLC04717.05

1860

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Gerrit Smith and the vigilant association of the City of New York.

Published by John A. Gray, printer. Includes correspondence related to a law suit in which Gerrit Smith accuses several individuals of libel. In a manifesto, members of the Vigilant Association linked Smith's name with the Central Association, a charge which Smith denies. Smith's defenders call the linking of Smith with the Central Association "wholesale murder upon Mr. Smith's reputation."

GLC04717.06

1860

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Religion of reason, no. 4. The one test of character. A discourse by Gerrit Smith, in Peterboro, July twenty-second, 1860.

Published in New York City by Ross & Tousey. In closing, Smith writes, "The morals and manners of a church should be such, as to realize our highest conceptions of human dignity... Church of Peterboro! Be true to your own God at the approaching Election. He is not your God, who would have men vote for candidates who are in favor of a white man's Party, and of excluding the black man from suffrage and citizenship." Bound in a yellow paper cover.

GLC04717.07

1863

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Gerrit Smith on religion.

Published by Sinclair Tousey. Includes a letter to Dr. G. B. Cheever (possibly George Barrell Cheever), "Discourse in Peterboro... The Good See: The Bad are Blind," a letter to Henry Ward Beecher on Stonewall Jackson, and a "Funeral Discourse in Peterboro."

GLC04717.08

1864

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Speeches and letters of Gerrit Smith (from January, 1863, to January, 1864) on the rebellion.

Published by John A. Gray & Green, printers. Includes various letters and speeches by Smith.

GLC04717.09

1865

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Speeches and letters of Gerrit Smith (from January, 1864, to January, 1865), on the rebellion. Volume II.

Published by the American News Company. Contains Smith's opinion on the Constitution of the United States in relation to the Civil War, the Democratic Party, and other topics.

GLC04717.10