Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-? [Collection of Charles E. Walbridge, H company, 100th Regiment, New York, Infantry] [Decimalized .01-.74]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04663 Author/Creator: Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-? Place Written: Various Places Type: Header Record Date: 1862-1865 Pagination: 74 letters Order a Copy
Collection contains the letters of Charles E. Walbridge, of Buffalo, New York, to his sister Louise. The collection consists of 71 letters to his sister, 2 letters of his sister to Charles Walbridge, and 1 letter from Leon Brown to Louise Walbridge. Charles Walbridge served in the 100th New York Volunteer Regiment and later as a quartermaster. He saw service at many places in Virginia, South Carolina, Florida and North Carolina. After receiving his discharge Walbridge stayed for several months in the South. He purchased surplus horses and mules from the army and sold them to Southerners who were affected by Sherman's march.
Of particular interest is Charles' description of the attack on Fort Wagner by the Massachusetts 54th and supporting white regiments, possibly the first use of Confederate torpedo boats. His regiment was criticized for its performance at the Battle of Fair Oaks, which Walbridge defends not only immediately following the battle but on the one year anniversary as well. The battle descriptions are more detailed in this collection than in GLC04662, which contains letters to his mother.
Walbridge seems to have an affinity for Roman Catholicism since he mentions a religious Sister Rosalie, and her devotion to the Pope. (His letters to his mother, GLC04662, mention attending Episcopal and Presbyterian church services.) Louise Walbridge, a school teacher, was active in supporting the war effort and many of the letters ask about fairs and bazaars. Lydia Walbridge practiced Spiritualism, a popular system of religious beliefs centering on the assertion that living humans can communicate with the dead through a spiritual medium.
See GLC04662 for letters written by Walbridge to his mother.
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