Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.273 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Yorktown, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 May 1864 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes that he has been very busy with drilling, parading and "his papers." Notes that General Brooks is in command of his regiment and that "it should have been General Burnham." Says that the regiment is keeping 4 days cooked rations ready in order to move quickly if they receive orders to march. Thanks his family for the stockings and postage stamps that they sent and says that he is going to try to purchase new shoes, a tin cup and tobacco from town.'
Camp of 8th Connt Vol Inft Yorktown Va, May 1, 1864
Dear All, I have kept silence a whole week & now I must speak again. I have not written partly because from George's letters (I have recd none from any one else since we left Deep Creek.) I could not tell where to direct as the past week seems to have been a moving week with you all but chiefly I have not written because I have not had a moment to spare. Since we arrived we have all been very busy. Almost the whole of each day is taken up with drilling & parading & being reviewed by Genls Butler, Smith, & Burnham & every moment besides I have been occupied with my company or making muster Rolls or Returns or getting my papers in shape & in the smallest possible compass. I shall carry with me nothing but a small carpet bag for my clothes & company papers. I have been at work every night until from 11 to 2 o'clock but that I make up by not rising until 8 in the morning. Alfred cannot help me in the last thing about my papers he is such a poor writer & I prefer to do it all my self. Alf. is very willing to do any thing. we have been drilling skirmish drill lately & I have been obliged to study con siderably, that & Brigade drill. Battalion drill I believe I know by heart. I wrote you that Genl Brooks commanded our Brigade, it should have been Genl Burnham. He is a real honest old farmer, I should judge, & a first rate officer - tells us to march to a pipers eyes &c & evidently thinks the old 8th is about right. he has complimented us several times & has given us the right of the Brigade although we are not entitled to it. Yesterday this whole corps was reviewed by Genl Butler. I was Brigade off of Day & I stood by the Genl while all of our favorite Regts passed & the 8th did entirely eclipse all the others. The first Brigade passed first & as the 2d came on with the 8th at the head I found I was shaking all over with excitement & as they passed I could hardly keep from calling out "Bully." Alf. says he heard Genl Butler ask what Regt this was as they passed. Genl Butler had all his family with him, wife & children. He reviews the 10th corps the other side of the river to day. We are keeping four days cooked rations on hand in readiness to move at a moments notice. we hear it rumored that all mails between the Army of the Potomac & the outside world have ceased for sixty days. If such should be the case in this department you must not be worried for if I was sick or any thing happened I should be sent to the rear & then you would hear. So you will understand that no news is good news. I shall try to get to Yorktown tomorrow & buy me a pair of Army shoes, a tin cup & some tobacco & then I am ready for the march I believe. The stockings you sent are recd just what I wanted, am much obliged to Geo for Po stamps & currency I hope you have not sent any more shirts for I dont know what I can do with them my bag is full. We have but one wagon for the whole Regt for ammunition, cooking utensils, offs baggage & every thing - never had as little transportation before. I sent Geo. $100. hope he recd it. I shall probably send you in a day or two a package of papers, ordinance & camp & Garrison Equipage Returns, receipts, for that as you love me I hope you will take care of for they are my vouchers. There many valuable papers in my trunk also. If I send these papers I shall try to express them. I shall carry as few valuable papers with me as possible. - Good night dear all - [top margin first page] Intended to have written more this A.M. (May 2) but its mail time nothing new. Best love Affct son & bro Chas.
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