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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
December 9, 1862
Interesting story of a lady and child who left a package addressed to General Dix near a picket line. Upon receiving the package, Dix boarded a steamer bound for Fortress Monroe.
GLC04663.11
December 27, 1863
Transport via steamer, description of conditions aboard the ship. Written on board steamer Belvidere, Hampton Roads.
GLC04663.12
February 2, 1863
Tells of the Montauk's attack on Fort Pulaski. "I know my letters are very dull now a days but you must remember, that we are completely cut off from the outer world."
GLC04663.13
February 21, 1863
Talks about family affairs: his sister Sarah's illness and her decision to wean the baby; his wish to attend a party; asks about Louise's birthday.
GLC04663.14
7 March 1863
"Gen'l Hunter issued an order yesterday which says that all able bodied Negroes between the ages of eighteen and fifty one, not regularly employed in the Quartermaster and Commissary Departments, or as Officer's servants, shall be drafted, and...
GLC04663.15
March 21, 1863
"It rains in smart little showers four times an hour." Discusses news about the 100th NY regiment. Writes of books he has read and one which he wants to read.
GLC04663.16
25 April 1863
Posted to a "battery" of one brass gun and two palmetto guns, rumors of a renewed attack on Charleston, exchanging newspapers with the Confederates, who "beat us in getting possession of the New York Papers." He then discusses the dangers of such...
GLC04663.17
8 May 1863
Death of friends, moving toward Charleston. Also mentions news from home: a fair raised $500, "Cousins Elbridge and Mary have done me the honor to name their baby after me."
GLC04663.18
24 May 1863
News of the reception of a regiment returning to Buffalo, the homesickness of soldiers, and bathing in the ocean. Also discusses the Confederate advantage architect of interior lines.
GLC04663.19
31 May 1863
Provides a reconnaissance on James Island. Reflects on the Battle of Fair Oaks, and the anniversary of that battle. Dicusses home and mentions that will leave on furlough in two weeks.
GLC04663.20
14 June 1863
Read The New System of Tactics and enjoyed it. A confederate steamer runs aground and is boarded every night by union troops who take her cargo. A boil is growing on his neck.
GLC04663.21
to his son
19 July 1863
Describes the attack on Fort Wagner. A page dated 7/20, lists missing and wounded officers. "Shortly after dark our troops advanced to the assault. The 54th Mass. (colored regiment) in the lead... [T]his regiment which went into the charge with...
GLC04663.22
15 August 1863
Siege of Charleston. Four regiments of Negroes who are better at fatigue work than white soldiers. "The consequence is that fifty Negroes are equal to a hundred white soldiers, for ordinary work." Closes with the expectation that bombardment of...
GLC04663.23
4 September 1863
Sister Rosalie [a Roman Catholic nun?] arrives at Folly Island from Buffalo. The joys of soldiering, progress of the siege, death of a sergeant.
GLC04663.24
7 October 1863
Provides a description of the attack on the "New Ironsides" by the Confederate torpedo boat "David." "The rebels came down the harbor in a small cigar shaped steamer... She lay off some distance from the Ironsides and sent a small boat with a...
GLC04663.25
11 November 1863
Encloses a piece of brick taken from Fort Sumter [not included in collection] by a scouting party. Asks about the farm and selling the mill.
GLC04663.26
25 November 1863
Embarrassed by the news that several ladies inspected a uniform he sent home, worries about the recently discovered Canada Conspiracy, and pay of a black regiment. "The North Carolina regiment (colored), are to be paid off to morrow, it seems all...
GLC04663.27
December 11, 1863
Notes that he received a piece of wedding cake. Discusses the Sanitary Commission, the sinking of the "Weehawken," and an explosion in Fort Sumter, which was followed by Union mortar fire. Sarah sent him a book entitled, "The Wife's Strategy," which...
GLC04663.28
December 21, 1863
Some members of the regiment went home on a recruiting campaign. Walbridge asked them to stop by the house. Reflects on the coming Christmas and Christmas past. Briefly discusses Hugo's description of the battle of Waterloo.
GLC04663.29
January 10, 1864
Discusses the weather and his brother George's decision to move to New York City.
GLC04663.30
January 21, 1864
Troops reviewed by General Gordon. Walbridge states it was a wonderful occasion.
GLC04663.31
February 2, 1864
News concerning his trip to Beaufort, blockade runner tried to enter Union occupied Charleston Harbor and ran aground near Fort Moultrie.
GLC04663.32
February 14, 1864
Ordered to report to Jacksonville, Florida. "I have existed on Folly Island for ten months, and I am not sorry to leave it, I don't well see how I can change for the worse, as far as location is concerned."
GLC04663.33
February 23, 1864
Written on board steamer "Maple Leaf." Continued on 25 February and the 28 February. Describes the ship which formerly sailed on Lake Ontario and was "chartered" by the government. The section dated 25 February is written from Jacksonville...
GLC04663.34
3 March 1864
Continued 3 April. Notes that General Hatch relieved General Seymour as commander of the District of Florida. Seymour is under investigation by a congressional committee on the Florida campaign. The section dated 3 April explains that a steamer...
GLC04663.35
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