Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family

Camp of 8th Mar 10, '64
Have had supper & its just about time to step in & see Mother sister & bro so listen to my gab - you remember how I used to talk you all blind after I succeeded in climbing the stairs & recovered my breath. How I do pity you all at home running up & down stairs, why if you would only move out here you could live on the first floor all the time & never have a single stair to climb. I think there are some serious defects in our present civilization & getting up stairs or rather having stairs to get up is one. I shall have to correct that when I get home after we have finished up this little job we have down here. Alfred Goddard has just come in for his supper. & proposes a game of cribbage so farewell for an hour or two. Half past nine P.M. - Recd your letter yesterday the first word I have heard from your since the 24th ult. eleven days. Why did you wait until you recd mine before writing. So after seven days, a whole week, your cold is only "giving off" what a siege you must have had, equalled only by ours at Suffolk. I dont mean to make fun of your cold I am sure, I only mean to refer to the length of the discomforts of our siege & not the ridiculous potions. So Genl Hunt is finally to be relieved is he. I shant cry over it tho' I am really sorry for Mrs. Hunt. I hope Dr. Hubbard's prescription will do Ellen on ocean of good. What is the matter with you all, why I am growing fat & hearty every day I do believe this kind of life agrees with me. The first four nights after reaching camp I slept so cold that as the Irish- man would say I shouldn't sleep & yet was twice as bright & well as while in New Haven. I am just as bust as I can be straightening out my accounts which Morgan had got in a perfect muddle, drilling recruits - Lt. Goddard being the most awkward & troublesome one & every thing else besides and all the time coloring my Merschaum. I feel real high to night perhaps it is because I signed the pledge the other day. our chaplain Mr smith has started one & Brought it to me to sign I refused at first because I thought it was total abstainance but when I read it & saw that it only required abstainance from liquor as a beverage I immediately told him I would sign that with pleasure & did so. Almost all the officers have since signed. Capt. Hoyt has. Lt. Goddard has not, says he cant see it. I was vaccinated to day & my arm is somewhat swolen, so I think it may take. I was very much shocked to hear of Emma Gibbs death, it seems to me so sudden. I know to be sure that she was unwell when I left but did not know that it was more than slight indisposition I did like and respect her very much & I cannot realize that I shall see her no more, she was so cordial, frank & good, I dont wonder she was the darling of the family. She was one of the very few persons that I have ever seen that I altogether liked. Well she has gained more than we can have lost. If proper, please say to the Gibb's that I sympathize with them, &c. I would so liked to have met uncle Geo. while in New Haven, why didnt he come a week earlier & then I should have seen him. what a pleasant surprise to you. Does he not think we have done well with the house. If uncle Geo. was away I take it for granted that Aunt Mary is well. Have used up my allowance of paper & will close for to night tho' have not said what I intended [top margin first page] shall write again in day or two. Al Goddard is more awkward than even I imagined Cant even keep step to music & yet he is a real pleasant fellow & wants to do all that he can & rather more than I want him to sometimes. I really like him. Our house gets on slowly think we shall move about the middle of June or some other month. Alfred did not mark the logs when the house was taken down so of course he does not know where they should go when he is building. Have made out correct ordinance Returns & am waiting to receive blanks from Washington to complete & forward them. Remember me to Russell & every body. Good night.