MUSEUM QUALITY
AMERICANA
COMMEMORATING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL WAR WITH
THE FINEST ORIGINAL SOLDIER'S LETTERS AND ARTIFACTS
This letter and an attached “list of casualties” in H Company at Battery Wagner are really 2 pieces as our writer Lt. C. E. Walbridge has signed both. This is an amazing historic set as the list of casualties also states things like “Wounded”, “leg shot off”, “wounded in breast” and many “wounded and missing”. The letter dated July 17th, 1863 lists the preparations being done in getting ready in storming Battery Wagner the next morning!
· “Our forces have been working with might and main erecting batteries mounting guns. Finally,
everything is ready and tomorrow morning at daylight the attack will be made. It will be a much
more severe engagement than that of a week ago. We are going to attack Ft. Wagner again. Our
gunboats have been dropping shells into it ever since we first landed on the island…”
· “We have nearly 40 pieces of ordnance in position of which at least 15 are morters… have 4, 200-lbs.
Parrots on the island which will be mounted after we get Wagner for the purpose of battering Sumter.
I think the chances are good for our getting Charleston. Charleston papers… call upon everyone to turn
out and drive the Federals from Morris Island at the point of the bayonet!”
· “The Rebs have been strongly reinforced. Night before last, Gen. Terry’s forces, which were on James
Island but have since been withdrawn, were attacked by 5 regiments just from Richmond. In the
affair, the 54th Mass. (colored) was engaged and they did well. During the affair, the Rebs opened on
the Pawnee (gunboat) with a field battery and put 51 shots into her before she could fire a gun in
return – one man was killed…”
· “I cannot but think constantly of the approaching battle tomorrow… just think if we get Charleston!
Vicksburg is fallen; Richmond at our last accounts was seriously threatened; Lee was up on Maryland,
and now if we can only take this accursed city! I believe that we have as good troops here as ever were
anywhere, and I have great faith in Gilmore, Seymour, Strong & Terry…”
For the Charleston, Battery Wagner or 100th New York collector, this is a great set! The four page letter in ink is in fine condition as is the list of casualties.
#HC59NY - Price $995
Transcription:
North end of Folly Island July 17/63
Dear George,
I am afraid that I have been very negligent about writing home for
the last few weeks, but it has been so because my mind has been so much
occupied that I could not write; in fact I have not read the newspapers. I am
having more leisure now however. The day after the assault on Morris Island
I received orders from Lt. Col. Elwell Chief Q. M. Dept of South, to proceed to
Morris Island, and establish myself as Post Q. M. and stating that I would be
relieved on Folly Island by Capt. Dunton. Accordingly I started bright and
early in the morning, but on getting to the North end, I met Gen. Vogdes (who
is comdg. the forces on the island) who claimed that I was under his orders &
had been all the time. He ordered me to remain at this point. I am therefore
still Quartermaster of Vogdes Brigade. I wrote a brief account of the attack
on the batteries on this end of Morris Island. Since then our forces have been
working with might & main erecting batteries & mounting guns. Finally
everything is ready, and tomorrow morning at daylight the attack will be
made. It will doubtless be a much more severe engagement than that of a
week ago. We are going to attack Fort Wagner. Our gunboats have been
dropping shells into it ever since we first landed on the island. Of course not
continually, but they have fired more or less every day. We have nearly or
quite, forty pieces of ordnance in position, of which at least fifteen are
mortars. We have four two hundred found Parrots on the island, which will
be mounted after we get Wagner, for the purpose of battering Sumter. I
think the chances are good for our getting Charleston. Charleston papers of
the 13th acknowledge that if we get Wagner we will have the city, and call
upon everyone to turn out, and drive the Federals from Morris Island at the
point of the bayonet! The rebels have been strong reinforced; night before
last, Gen. Terry’s force which were on James Island but have since been
withdrawn, were attacked by five regiments just from Richmond. In this
affair the 54th Mass (colored) was engaged, and everyone says they did well.
Driving the affair, at the opening, the Rebs opened on the Pawnee (gunboat)
with a field battery, and put fifty one shots into her, before she could fire a
gun in return. One man was killed on board of her.
Since writing the above, I have embarked a regiment in small boats,
and sent them across to Morris Island, and am now waiting for another. It
is a few minutes past midnight. I have just received Louise’s very interesting
letter of June 24th. It must have been delayed someplace on the road. It is
very kind in her to take so much pains in writing me the details of every
show or fandango that takes place in Buffalo. When I read her accounts, it
seems almost as if I were there. I notice that the younger young ladies are
coming on the field of action, those who were little girls not very long ago.
I received your Leslie. The camp represented in the fiction of the
Observatory was not mine. My camp was about a mile from it.
I was paid off a few weeks ago, but I was so busy, tat I just slapped
the money into my wallet & did not think anything about sending it home.
It is so long now that I think I will wait till next payday, and send it all
together.
I cannot but think constantly of the approaching battle tomorrow;
just think if we get Charleston! Vicksburg is fallen; Richmond at our last
accounts was seriously threatened; Lee was in Chancery up in Maryland,
and now if we can only take this accursed city! I believe that we have as
good troops here, as ever were anywhere, and I have great faith in Gillmore,
Seymour, Strong & Terry. Vogdes remain on Folly Island. That regiment
hasn’t made its appearance, and I am getting sleepy so good night.
Your affectionate brother,
C. E. Walbridge
List of Casualties:
