Walbridge, Charles E. (b. 1842) to mother
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04662.095 Author/Creator: Walbridge, Charles E. (b. 1842) Place Written: Goldsboro, North Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 March 1865 Pagination: 4 p. Order a Copy
Visiting acquaintances who have rented a plantation and planted a corn crop. He was surprised to learn that some of the plowhands were women. Walbridge has invested $1000.
Goldsboro, N.C.
March 3rd. 1865.
Dear Mother,
I arrived here this morning from Raleigh on my way back to Tarboro. The train going North does not leave till about ten o'clk this evening, so I have to stay here all day. -
I am visiting a couple of old acquaintances who have rented a plantation and are preparing to plant a crop of cotton. - Day, and Van Valkenbray are their names. - They have put up a very comfortable frame house, rough, and on the army stylo, but still roomy and comfortable, stables, and shanties for the negroes. - I rode all over the place this morning with [2] Day to inspect their operations. -
It was really a pleasant sight, to see about twenty ploys going, turning over the rich brown soil. - Some of the ploys are run by women, and Sam pointet out one girl, who he said was the best plowman he had. - He says that they all work well, and that everything goes on smoothly and pleasantly. - This is I think the case generally, the negroes are doing a great deal better than most people expected. -- There are still a great many congregated in, and about the cities, and of course a large proportion of those are idle, -- but the county people are doing well. - But enough about the "everlasting [3] nigger". - There was a large attendance at the Raleigh sale, and goods for the most part brought very high price, so that I did not buy much. I invested however about a thousand dollars. - I do not know yet, how my operations are going to comeout, but I think I shall make something. Of course I cannot know definitely all the goods are sold. -
I am anxious to get back to Tarboro and take care of my teams; I expect the mules are braying for me tremendously. If no accident occurs I shall be there tomorrow morning. -
My latest letter is one from George of [illegible] 27th, in which he says that you are all well at home. - I hope to find some letters at Tarboro, as I have tele[4]graphed to have them forwarded. -
Please change my address again, and direct letters to care of Capt. J.D. Stubbs, New Bern. - Today [struck: has been] is very warm indeed, it seems almost like summer. It is splendid weather for farming and gardening. -
I notice that gold is dropping steadily. I think the price of everything else will gradually follow it, and that the cost of living in the present year, will be considerably less than it has been for the last two or three. - I see that at the last auction sale of coal in New York, it sold at from seven to eight dollars per ton. - I hope that the cost of building will go down so that one can afford to build on the park lots.
George writes me that Guns' salary has been raised to $2000. He is getting along splendidly; I wish that I was as well fixed. - I am afraid the girls and Harry will lose patience with me for writing so irregularly, but [inserted: in] such a busy time as this week has been, I haven't much time for writing. - Give them my love, and believe me, Your affectionate son C.E. Walbridge.
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