1863/12/7

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He was very excited to open his box of clothes, food and other materials. "I took as much pleasure . . . as children usually do in emptying their stockings on Christmass [sic] morning." He reports that the monitor "Weehawken" has sunk, probably due to a boiler explosion. He is upset by the reports of the Sanitary Commission which tell of the hardships at Belle Island, a prisoner of war camp in Richmond. He worries over the fate of a soldier. "I am afraid one of my men, 'Sam Patterson' the Indian is still at Belle Island."

GLC04662.051

December 25, 1863

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

The army celebrated Christmas with an artillery barrage on the city of Charleston. As a result a fire broke out in the city which burned for 11 hours. The rebels fired back, hit a gun boat and killed three people. He is applying for leave, but does not want to get his hopes up. His sawmill is running but needs a new boiler. He mentions the progress of the canal.

GLC04662.052

1864/1/2

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

His "boy" Isaac, who is nineteen years old, wants an education. He can read and write a little and "is quite a mathematician." He requests a first grade reader, a geography book, and an arithmetic book for Isaac's education. He was not approved for furlough.

GLC04662.053

1864/1/21

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He asks what gifts his mother purchased for the family with the money he sent. The sawmill is running very well. He is, once again, Quartermaster of Vodges division. He needs a new nightshirt.

GLC04662.054

1864/1/22

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Sends his mother a box of sea shells and pebbles that he has collected. Describes three types of shells and instructs her on deodorizing them.

GLC04662.055

1864/1/30

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

"I attended a hop at Gen'l Saxton's, and saw some real live ladies, and danced with them!" Is considering buying confiscated lands, but thinks the speculators may have beaten him to them.

GLC04662.056

1864/2/6

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

An expedition has left from Hilton Head, no one is sure where they are going. "Florida has been talked of considerably, as it's destination, but that makes me think that it is going to some other point." He hopes that he will be transferred soon.

GLC04662.057

1864/2/14

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Ordered to report to Jacksonville, Florida.

GLC04662.058

1864/2/21

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Continued 2/22 at Hilton Head. He is waiting for a transport to take him to Florida. He hopes to get an appointment [as quartermaster] and a furlough. Reports the news of the Florida expedition: it has lost 7 guns, 400 wounded men have been captured by Confederates and the army has retreated.

GLC04662.059

1864/2/29

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Describes the fighting near Lake City [Battle of Olustee or Ocean Pond, 2/20/1864] as quite severe: over 1700 killed, wounded, and missing. He comments: "The negro troops did very well except the 8th U.S. Colored Troops, which is a new regiment, having only left Philadelphia a few weeks ago. They broke and run making scarcely any fight at all. but even this was no worse than one of the white regiments which did the same thing. Two of the colored regiments however, the 54th Massachusetts and the 1st North Carolina, are said to have done splendidly." He advises his mother on family…

GLC04662.060

1864/3/15

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He is acting Chief Quartermaster for the Department. He encloses a copy of the Free South, a newspaper printed by the army which contains some Confederate articles [not included]. One Southern article tells of another battle in Florida, which Walbridge does not consider a battle since only one union soldier was killed. He notes that Southern losses were much higher.

GLC04662.061

1864/3/16

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Tells his mother to hire a servant girl. Worries over the health of baby George, and read a newspaper account of a reception for veterans of the 100th NY.

GLC04662.062

1864/3/20

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Upset over the death of Sarah's baby. He attended church service at General Seymour's house. He wants to go home and see his family.

GLC04662.063

1864/4/8

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He encloses a rose [included] that he picked near his house. His express box arrived almost two months after being sent, "There has been time enough I suppose for it to have reached Constantinople." He likes his new nightshirts. However, the pants are light blue, the color of regimental officers. He needs dark blue pants, the color of the general staff. The steamer "Maple Leaf" was blown up by torpedoes. General Hatch has organized "Boat infantry" to search for any additional torpedoes. Walbridge draws a small picture of a torpedo recovered by this detail and describes its mechanisms…

GLC04662.064

1864/5/7

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

The steamer "Fanning" was sunk, taking with it a letter from Walbridge. He is now acting chief Quartermaster for the 10th Army Corps and has been very busy loading steamers. He desperately wants a furlough.

GLC04662.065

1864/5/16

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He can hear the musket fire from a battle near Petersburg [Drewry's Bluff or Fort Darling]. Sheridan's cavalry appeared across the river from their headquarters.

GLC04662.066

1864/5/22

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Thanks his mother for her "cheering words" and is glad she is not too disappointed that he has given up on the idea of getting a furlough.

GLC04662.067

1864/6/2

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He would like to be with Grant's army. He advises his mother on financial affairs, to sell some property and invest the money in government bonds. He gives the interest of the bonds in greenbacks as $492, and in gold as $800. He gives the recent report of a battle [Cold Harbor], but adds that he must wait until he receives the New York papers before he knows what really happened.

GLC04662.068

18 June 1864

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Walbridge

Writes to his mother that he returned last night from a two day excursion across the Appomattox River to bring supplies to the troops since their supply trains had not yet arrived. Discusses the fighting at Petersburg, 15-18 June 1864. States he rode along the front of Union Generals Winfield S. Hancock and William Farrar Smith's corps yesterday and says everything appears to be going well. Comments that Petersburg is only two and a half miles from their line. Reports that Hancock took 700 prisoners and two guns, while Union General Ambrose E. Burnside took 500 prisoners and seven guns.…

GLC04662.069

1864/6/24

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

"I have great confidence in Grant and so I believe has every other soldier in the army." They are having a drought and the roads have become very dusty. He gives his mother advice on selling one of their lots and building a house on another. He visits the 100th regiment which is camped 10 mile from Richmond.

GLC04662.070

1864/7/4

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He has received a thirty day furlough and will start home on Friday. He describes ships decorated and batteries firing in observance of the 4th of July.

GLC04662.071

1864/8/6

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He is on his way back to the front. He has seen a physician about his "comforter" trouble. It caused his eye to swell shut and had to be opened by the doctor.

GLC04662.072

1864/8/16

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Rumors that the federal line at Petersburg has advanced and captured several lines of rifle pits.

GLC04662.073

1864/8/19

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

The death of Cousin Lydia's child. Reports on a battle [Weldon Railroad] and expects that Grant will remove all troops from the other side of the James and begin a new strategy.

GLC04662.074

1864/8/27

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

A quick note sent with a check for $100.

GLC04662.075