Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.036 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Annapolis, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 November 1861 Pagination: 5 p. Order a Copy
Writes about the good condition of his tent and its ability to keep him dry. Encloses a certificate that Daly will need to travel to Annapolis. One of the five pages is written on back of a letter from Colonel Thomas.
Saturday morning 1/4 to eight Nov 23, 1861 I feel as our major would say decidedly "happy" this morning. Have been at work on my Morning & semi weekly Report & have them completed with the exception of filling in one company report which has not yet been returned to me, it should have been brought me before 1/2 past 6. It has been raining hard all night, it is real fun to hear the drops strike on the tent, it seems as though it must come through, but the cloth is real thick (they are not the same tents we had in Hartford) & I am just as dry as ever & my stove keeps us as warm as can be, its real nice to have it so wet all round you & perfectly dry inside. The Coln had his stove sit in the ground so as to avoid cutting the tent for the pipe, his pipe went out side under the sides of the tent & this morning the hole is filled with water & when I was in there a few moments hence he was in bed & Johnson was resetting the stove. Dr. Lathrop has brought a stove like mine. all the underground stoves are flooded. I hope to hear about Daly to day. I think it is time for my letter to go & an answer back. I go out to the Guard mounting soon and then must ride down to navy yard to deliver my semi weekly report at Head Quarters but with rubber coat & high boots I am perfectly protected & even if I should get wet I can stay by my fire all the rest of the day. Stanton is getting breakfast ready, the water is already boiling for the coffee. Lived on oysters &c yesterday 12 cents worth of oysters, a quart made us two meals, then we have sausages & every thing desirable. Nothing new, every thing goes on in the old channel, dont know when or where we are going & dont care. Was very busy yesterday on monthly Report &c. It is all reports. reporting here reporting there. Do write every day as I do & dont be afraid of writing too much I shall read it all you can depend. How I would like to see you all. Love Chas Sat. Afternoon I write again to day to enclose a certif. for Tho. Daly if he has not started before this reaches home. He will be unable to get here without it. I wish instead of writing I was going myself & could stay over Thanksgiving. I dont know how we shall spend it here, about like all other days I suppose. Had a nice porter house steak with potatoes &c for dinner, so you see I live well if I do do my own cooking & I have all I want & it is cheap, you cant get as nice meat at home for 8 cents per pound as I get here. Had a first rate letter from Steve Meech this morning but none from you. The storm cleared off shortly after I wrote this morning so I had a nice ride except for the mud which is awful in the road. The report I worked on so long yesterday the Adjt Genl told me this morning was the only one returned to him that was correct, that pleased me, pretty well for a green hand. Chas Head Quarters 8th Regt C.V. Annapolis, Md. Nov. 22, 1861 Colonel, Special order No. 151 issued from Headquarters Army of the Potomac is received and duly promulgated. By order of Edward Harland Col, Com. 8th Reg Conn vols Charles Coit Adjutant Col. S.Thomas Asst. Adjt. Genl, U.S.A.
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