Newport News Va
February 27th 18631
Lieut Colonel Chs LeGendre2
commanding 51st Regt New York Vols
Sir
Having been always with the Regiment since the Organization of it at New York which is now over 18 months, and in all the time never have been excuse from any duty whatever and having urgent business at home which demands my immediate attention, I beg leave of asking you hereby the favor of granting me, leave of absence for ten Days
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
George W. Whitman
Capt Co K, 51st N. Y. V.
Notes
- 1. This letter is part of
George W. Whitman's official military record. [back]
- 2. Charles W. LeGendre
(1830–1899), born in France and educated at the University of Paris, was a
soldier who helped to recruit the Fifty-first New York Volunteer Infantry.
LeGendre was severely wounded at New Bern, North Carolina, on March 14, 1862, as
George observed in his letter of March 16–18,1862, to his mother, Lousia
Van Velsor Whitman (Trent Collection of Whitmaniana, Duke University Rare Books,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library). LeGendre was appointed lieutenant
colonel on September 20, 1862, and later succeeded Edward Ferrero (see Walt
Whitman's letter to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman from December 29, 1862) and Robert B. Potter (see Walt Whitman's letter to
Louisa Van Velsor Whitman from May 26, 1863) as
commanding officer of the Fifty-first Regiment. During the second Battle of the
Wilderness, May 6, 1864, he lost his left eye and the bridge of his nose, and
was honorably discharged on October 4 of the same year. See Whitman's account of
LeGendre's hospitalization in his letter to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman, May 13, 1864
. [back]