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to his mother

Encourages more letter-writing on his family's part. Describes his Sunday activities and writes of his Assistant Adjutant General not receiving the monthly report he worked on for nearly a whole day.

GLC03603.029

to his family

Reflects on the last year saying, "How little we seem to have accomplished during the last twelve months." Expresses his thankfulness for God keeping him safe and healthy. Also says that his regiment has been almost constantly on the "front" for the...

GLC03603.178

to his family

Written on blank "Morning Report of Captain" form. Describes the departure from Hartford and their arrival at Staten Island and subsequent trip to Long Island. His brother, George Coit, came to watch the departure of the regiment. Remarks that he...

GLC03603.012

to his family

Written on the back of a draft of a note confirming the receipt of ten company morning report books. Says that he is now doing both the work of the Adjutant and the Assistant Adjutant General. Mentions that Harland is now also acting "Brigadier"...

GLC03603.048

to his family

Provides more details about the battle in an effort to answer some of his family's questions. Writes that the regiment is preparing to leave Roanoke Island and that the Governor survived the passage by ship and the battle.

GLC03603.082

to his family

Tells of Colonel Harland being asked to command a Brigade consisting of the 8th, 11th of Connecticut and 4th of Rhode Island regiments making him a Colonel Commanding with the powers of a Brigadier. Coit is very sad as Harland will have his offices...

GLC03603.116

[Document concerning monument to Dr. Lathrop]

A draft of a document outlining the intention to honor Dr. Lathrop with a monument and an account ledger keeping track of which members of the 8th Regiment had donated to the fund and the amounts of their donations.

GLC03603.162

Charles Morgan Coit to George O. Coit

Writes that he wishes George could have come with him but that it was a very long, cold journey from Newport News to Suffolk. Asks that George write him from Baltimore, Maryland. Written at Camp Suffolk.

GLC03603.213

to his family

Says that he is finding it hard to write because he feels very close to home. The officers of his camp were complimented on their abilities and commitment to duty. Responds to news from home that his family is thinking of renting out their house in...

GLC03603.253

to his family

Writes that he has been in the rear trenches for a day and will be moving to the front at night. Reports that the regiment consistently loses men in the battle. Writes of leaving the trenches to track down the regiment's luggage. Says that the...

GLC03603.289

General Orders

The orders say that 100-150 Union troops have been captured by the Confederate Army and will be placed in front of their troops going into battle. The orders request that an equal number of Confederate prisoners of war be "set to work in the...

GLC03603.321.02

to his family ("Dear old Anne and all there")

His cousin, Edward Coit, visited him in the camp. Complains that the liquor supply sent to him by his Uncle George is leaking and that he'd better drink it quickly. Says that he only has drank it for medical problems. Describes a very good division...

GLC03603.055

to his family

Describes how much he enjoys the company and conversation of the other Field and Staff as they are "almost all educated men." Says he has not received any mail from home since leaving Hartford. Written from Camp Buckingham.

GLC03603.015

to his family

Writes of Harland talking about their prospects in terms of promotions. Reports that though they are both acting in higher positions, they are only being paid according to their official ranks. Responds to the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel...

GLC03603.051

to his family

Describes the other officers aboard the Sentinal. Considers the possibility of the regiment going to Beaufort or Newbern. Written on board the ship "the Sentinal."

GLC03603.085

to his family

Writes of leaving Newbern by train and waiting to board a steam ship that would take the troops to an unknown destination. Before the steam ship can depart, word comes from General Burnside of the capture of Richmond and negates the need for the...

GLC03603.119

to his family

Writes, "The mental suffering of the last few days & nights has been beyond expression & much as we all disliked the marching in retreat the relief of mind on putting foot to ground this side the river was wonderful." Describes retreating after six...

GLC03603.173

to his family

Writes how busy he is with muster rolls and straightening out the clothing and ordinance accounts. Notes that he is relieved that he is not responsible for these accounts. The letter is written on a piece of paper that he has used to add account sums...

GLC03603.256

to his family

Writes about marching from Point of Rocks to a camp and then on towards Petersburg. Describes the 8th regiment driving rebel soldiers back into the woods. Gives more details about the fighting and says that the loss was very slight. Writes that the...

GLC03603.292

to his family

He writes that he is on duty on Brigade Staff as Acting Adjt. General and live in a house. He feels that it is a position of honor. He has forwarded $600 of his pay home. He writes on U.S. Sanitary Commission stationary.

GLC03603.324

to his family

Writes that he will attempt to take a furlong at the end of the month. Makes reference to staying at Miss S. G. C.'s house during his time off. Thanks his family for the photograph of his brother ("the young man in the Insurance Company"). Also...

GLC03603.114

to his family

Tells his family about Professor Andrews, a family friend who had stayed at the Coit house last time he was in Norwich. Andrews is a professor at the female seminary college near the camp and invited Coit and the Captains of the regiment to his home...

GLC03603.018

to his family

Reports that a review of the division went very poorly for the 8th Regiment because of the Lieutenant Colonel. Responds to news from his mother about a possible servant by saying that he will give him a try if he is under no obligation to keep him...

GLC03603.054

to his family

Describes the circumstances under which Mr. Woolley, Captain Uphan, and Lieutenant Ives have resigned or otherwise left the service. Also critiques reporters' accounts of the battle and attempts to describe the battle more clearly for his family...

GLC03603.088

to his family

Mentions waiting to join McClellan's troops and discusses the massive amount of weaponry housed at Fort Monroe. Provides news of the other men from Norwich. Written "On ship at Ft. Monroe."

GLC03603.122

to his family

Writes that he is in command of a picket of 50 men. He does not believe there is any reason to be afraid of attack as they have been withdrawing their forces during the day.

GLC03603.219

to his family

Responds to news from his family about their new living situation. Writes about the Chaplain's insistence that the officers set good examples. Mentions his pledge not to indulge in alcoholic beverages and of his new pledge to give up tobacco...

GLC03603.260

to his family

He reacts to his family reminding him about his pledge not to drink liquor. Defends his drinking of liquor by saying that they only pledged not to drink it as a beverage-not as recreation. Says that he has been indulging in it quite freely.

GLC03603.295

General Orders 1345

The order states that Major General David B. Birney has died of a disease contracted in the field. The order recounts Birney's achievements.

GLC03603.328

to his family

Writes of traveling by train to Fredericksburg. Requests news of how the recruitment is going in Connecticut. Does not believe that his regiment will see fighting in Richmond because the Union troops greatly outnumber the rebel troops.

GLC03603.132

to his family

Writes that the regiment received news of the election results and were very much pleased. Describes the polling method used among the soldiers for the governor's race. Writes about how much he respects and admires General [Ambrose] Burnside and...

GLC03603.223

to his family

The brigade surgeon has told Coit that the regiment will be going to Annapolis in the coming week. He is regretful that they will leave Camp Buckingham as he has yet to receive items requested from home and still have no servant. Also writes that his...

GLC03603.021

to his family

Mentions that the regiment has received word that they must be ready to leave Annapolis at 12 hours notice. There is uncertainty as to where they are headed but he expresses fear that he will not be brave enough for battle. Discusses the skills and...

GLC03603.059

to his family

Writes of the trip from Newbern, up Slocum's Creek to Carolina (most likely North Carolina). Describes conditions of the camps and on the march. Also thanks his family for the maps they have sent him. Written from "Carolina City."

GLC03603.091

to his brother

Writes about the ability to get day-old New York newspapers in Newport News and comments on the contents. Also mentions that he has in his company "two contrabands:" Napoleon and a 13-year-old who hid on the boat when they left Morehead. Pities the...

GLC03603.125

to his family

Writes about the dismissal of Lieutenant Samuel Foss and responds to a letter sent by his family mentioning George Coit living away from home to attend school.

GLC03603.222

to George Coit

Congratulates his brother on having won first prize. Advises his brother on the path to better health and says that he would like to see a copy of a speech his brother is to give.

GLC03603.264

to his family

Writes about being on duty as Officer of the Day and preparing for an attack that never occurred. "Isn't it grand that Alabama has at last gone under and in actual combat." Notes that the army is pleased by the news of the Rebel troops moving North....

GLC03603.298

to Mrs. Charles Coit

The Chaplain writes to Mrs. Coit to inform her that Charles has been wounded with a shrapnel shot. Smith reports the wound is severe and that he was being transported to Chesapeake Hospital. He requested that the Chaplin write to his mother...

GLC03603.331

to his family

Writes of the compliments that the 8th Regiment has received on their marching skills. Describes his uniform fading and the bright uniforms of the new enlistees. Writes, "The large bounties being paid to new Regts are killing the spirits of all the...

GLC03603.141

to his family

Writes that he is not very busy and that his "chief employment is battling the flies." Mentions that he plans on visiting Lake Drumond with a group of other officers and that they are to be "poled out by a couple of darkies, the distance is 12 or 15...

GLC03603.237

to his mother, sister and brother

Writes of the long journey from Jamaica to Hunters Point and then by boat to Amboy. From Amboy, the regiment was transported by train cars to Philadelphia. Blames the Brigade Quarter Master for the ill-arranged transportation.

GLC03603.024

to his family

Worries about money matters at home. Promises to send money as soon as he can and requests that his brother, George, keep very careful account of the money coming in from rent. Writes about the poor condition of his horse and hopes that the...

GLC03603.062

to his family

Writes about detailing an orderly to help him with his paperwork. Instead of helping, the orderly left names off of the roll call and spilled two bottles of ink. Written from "Carolina City," most likely in North Carolina.

GLC03603.094

to his family

Writes that Charley Breed from Norwich died that morning. Reflects on his last conversation with Breed and how much he was valued by the regiment. The diagnosis was hemorrhage of the bowels.

GLC03603.128

to his family

Writes that they marched to Fort Dix. Describes General Corcoran and 6-8,000 troops going on a recognizance mission and retreating when they saw a rebel battery with a few hundred troops manning it. Criticizes other recent military moves and...

GLC03603.227

to his family

Notes they marched to Getty's Station to attend the execution of a deserter but were told that it was to be postponed. Says that they received orders to march to Bowers Hill and then were transported to Suffolk by "cars." They came back to camp via...

GLC03603.268

to his family

Writes an additional letter to include things he had forgotten. Requests a pair of cavalry boots and describes the type and size.

GLC03603.301

[Bill for Coit family board]

Bill for the board of Charles, Ellen, George and Mrs. Coit for 30 days. The total is $124.00 for the month of December. Signed by the Assistant Surgeon General or the U.S. Army.

GLC03603.334

to his family

Describes the views from the march from Antietam. Also predicts that Colonel Harland will soon be promoted to Brigadier, but is concerned that the Colonel will not ask men to be references in his favor. Writes about the other men he is sharing a tent...

GLC03603.151