Life & Letters

Correspondence

About this Item

Title: William E. Babcock to Walt Whitman, 25 December 1864

Date: December 25, 1864

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, and Joshua Ware



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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 New 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 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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