1865/12/1

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

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 institution."

GLC04662.115

1865/12/15

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

He has made $3000 in profit in the last three months. Still hopes to be home for Christmas.

GLC04662.116

1866/1/16

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

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

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

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 from shipping goods that he bought in auction. The blacks in the area are contracting with the planters. He disliked a church service because it sounded a "little to[o] "Beechering' for my taste."

GLC04662.118

1866/02/13

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

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

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

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 financially established.

GLC04662.120

1866/3/3

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

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

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

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

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

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

1865/6/10

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Minnie

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

1861/05/01

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

He has completed his business in Washington and warns his mother not to work too hard in the garden. He is not sure how long he will remain in the city. Written on the stationary of George W. Walbridge [a brother] of Pratt & Company.

GLC04662.001

1862/3/12

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

His journey to Washington. He describes a "society" in Philadelphia which met them at the train station and furnished them with a home made meal complete with crockery and white table cloths. Indicates that the regiment was well received at every place it traveled through except Baltimore where "we had nary a cheer and I thought everybody looked as if they were sorry to see us." He spends his first night in a "wall tent". [GLC 4663, # 1 contains an excellent description of the capitol building.]

GLC04662.003

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

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