Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.274 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Yorktown, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 May 1864 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes that the regiment is getting ready to march. Supplies have been consolidated and rations for five days have been prepared. He passes on rumors of different destinations. Writes of sending his possessions to be stored and sending money to be deposited in the name of William Rollins, a black soldier who is Coit's servant. Asks his brother, George, to add Rollins to his savings account as a trustee. Responds to the two books sent by his family, "Paradise Lost" and "Seasons."
Camp Yorktown, Va. May 4, '64
Dear all, We are probably off to day or tomorrow. We are turning over every thing surplus & reducing every thing to marching order. Five days rations cooked &c where we are going no one knows. Every one has a different idea. Some say we are going up the river & some down & up the James & so onto the Petersburg & Richmond R.R. (this is my belief) & some think that all this massing troops here has been entirely as a blind & that we are now to be separated again & perhaps go to our old posts again. I am very well & in good marching trim, feet in good order & all. Shall write as often as possible. I sent yesterday the chaplain was to express it a package of my valuable papers & fifty dollars in money to be deposited in a savings Bank in N. Haven in William Rollins (colored) name. I think George had better be put on the book as trustee for him. He is my servant - the one I have had for more than a year. as trustee George can keep the book & draw any part or the whole should he want it. Let Geo. write me fully about it so that I can tell Bill. I mail to day, the two books you sent me last, Paridise Lost & Seasons. I have only had time to just look at the seasons, how it did bring back the Connt in New Haven last winter & then all New Haven life & people & things. Yours of 30th ult. from Springfield recd yesterday. I think there was nothing that required a special answer. I didnt want anything from home now, shirts or anything. I am always interferring with Springfield visits. I hope you are all settled in New Haven again. I rather want to hear from there again. I do hope you will find the new boarding place more pleasant than Mrs. Perkin's. Regard to all my friends & to any one who cares to enquire for me. I enclose Receipt for trunk, the Receipt for $100, sent to Geo. at Norwich, I think I enclosed with the papers that I sent by Express yesterday. With very best love good bye. Col. Ward has just come in. Chas
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