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American Civil War ➔ Letter, Charles E. Hulbert To H. B. Hulbert from Annapolis Maryland
Identifier:
2011.37.16Description:
This collection of letters was written by Charles E. Hulbert of Watertown, NY to his brother H. B. Hulbert of Watertown, and his mother, Mrs. J. M. Hulbert of Grand Rapids. They were donated to the Museum by a local family who visited the Museum's "Thank God for Michigan: Stories from the Civil War" exhibit. The letters will be added to the Museum's extensive archival holdings from the Civil War. They offer a soldier's point of view on many aspects of the conflict, but particularly notable is Hulbert's vocal anti-slavery stance. He calls slavery a "curse" and in 1864 wrote, "Thank God, slavery has received its death blow. And I believe God will bless us for resolving to do even at this day, what ought to have been done years ago, viz. to abolish the institution which was a curse to the owner and the owned."; Head Quarters 94th New York VolsCamp Parole near Annapolis Md
April 10th 1864
My Dear Brother
Being well satisfied that this letter will reach you before ever I do, I have concluded to see if I cannot say something which may beguile for a few fleeting moments of your time, tho I hear nothing from you. Suppose it is because you are expecting me home, so to settle that question "When are you coming" I will say I don't know. Last week Lieut Mesler left with 56 Veterans, and a day or two after Lieut Mallison followed on with the the corpse of a soldier who died in our Hospital. So that now I am more hopeful of going with the detachment of 50 or 60 who are waiting to receive their Govt Bounty which we look for this week.
Gen Wadsworth has taken command of the city of Annapolis, so that Col. Root will not need an Adjutant there as much as he expected to.
Col Moffett is in favor of my going with the next detachment. Lt. French claims a right to go as 3/4 of his Co have re enlisted, but he was home on a 10 day leave when most of them enlisted, and since his return has been on a Genl Court Martial besides being promoted from a 2nd to a 1st Lieut. If my claims be not good by the side of his, I'll wait until next fall and go home for good, Unless something is done soon to fill up the Reg't . This week will probably decide my fate in the matter.
This afternoon I went down to see Uncle Claude and found him shaking with the ague & before I left he was hot with fever. He expects to be over it tommorow & expect him up here, unless the weather should be what it has been for the last 10 days. Uncle C. is to set on a Gen. Court Martial convening near here, & I may see him oftener.
9 o'clock p.m.. Uncle Claude & Lt. Smith of his company have been up here & attended meeting & returned . Uncle seems much better.
Hez I wish I could talk with you tonight through a more direct medium than the pen, but we must be patient and hopeful & all will come out right. We soldiers are going to help re-elect Abe next fall and after his re election old Rebellion will groan, gasp, & die & its leaders will visit foreign countries "for a living" rather than follow the "calling" to which they are best qualified i.e. "pulling hemp without a foothold." Then peace will again smile upon & bless us. Thank God Slavery has received its death blow !! and I believe God will bless us for resolving to do, even at this day, what ought to have been done years ago, viz. to abolish that Institution which was a curse to the owner and the owned.
We can now look forward to brighter days, when the boon of liberty shall be the free inheritance & unpurchasable birthright of black as well as white.
Hez I begin to think that the world has entered the campaign of the mighty revolution foretold in the scriptures, & these "wars & rumors of wars" are but the agents & visible effects of glorious principles which are yet to bring back this sin stained earth to a state of primitive loveliness & purity.
We are now living in the age of ages & should the grave spare us till our locks be white with age and the brow wrinkled, we may bless God then we lived when we lived. I am full of hope for the future & I can but pray that we may become adequate to the hour & tonight I long for the diviner influences of Christian Society & the heaven born loveliness of a quiet home lit by the smiles of that mother & little sister of ours.
Good night & God Bless thee, Love to all as usual. Write me soon & pray for your brother,
Charlie
