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William E. Babcock to Walt Whitman, 25 December 1864

About This Item

  • Title: William E. Babcock to Walt Whitman, 25 December 1864
  • Date: December 25, 1864
  • Creator(s): William E. Babcock
  • Whitman Archive ID: nyp.00226
  • Source: Berg Collection at the New York Public Library. Transcribed from digital images or a microfilm reproduction of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Contributors to digital file: Elizabeth Lorang Kathryn Kruger Joshua Ware
  • Cite this page: Babcock, William E.. "William E. Babcock to Walt Whitman, 25 December 1864." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 24 April 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: nyp.00226.xml (TEI)
 nyp.00226.001.jpg Camp 51st N.YVV  
 Near Petersburg Va December 15th 1864 Friend Walt,

Your kind letter came to hand in due time.1 And as this is Christmas night and I alone in my Shanty will improve it in writing You althouth there is not much new to write Yet I will make the Endeavor. I have been away all day as this is a day that all Niggers Should be free. and haveing an invitiation out to Eat roast Turkey of course excepted it and had a verry nice time yet I think had I been in  nyp.00226.002.jpgNew York or Brooklyn that I would enjoyed My-Self much better and Shall be glad to get back there once more as a citizen for to go there on a leave of absence is only an agrivation as the time is always So Short that one cannot heardly turn before he has to come back

I Suppose that you have heard that we have a new Colonel Commissioned in our regt. who is none other than Capt. McKiben Bronets Brig. Genl. And I heard that there had been a Commisson issued as Lt. Col. to Some out Sider, I don't know how true it is, Yet I think it is a Shame to run over all of our Officers that are now Priosners of War  nyp.00226.003.jpg Who have Served and fought in the regiment Since the Orginization and for my part I Shall resign if what I hear is true. So You need not be Surprised if You hear that Your humble Servant has put in his Unconditional Surrender, and retires to Private life

We have Sent Your Brother Georges large Trunk home to Your Mothers Address by Express So if you have not already received it You Can look out for it

Hopeing to hear from you Soon

I remain Yours &c WE Babcock  
 1st Lieut Comdr Co[illegible]  
 51st NYV

Notes

  • 1. William E. Babcock was a lieutenant in George Washington Whitman's Fifty-first Regiment, New York Volunteers. [back]
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