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to his family
5 April 1863
Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878
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
22 April 1863
Writes about going on a recognizance mission to check out some houses beyond the picket line. The mission was commanded by Captain Stevens, who Coit believed had scoped out the area and deemed the mission safe. Reports being fired at by no fewer than...
GLC03603.225
23 April 1863
Writes that the regiment has established a camp near the portion of the river that they are trying to defend. Comments about Colonel Ward having command over a few regiments as a "compliment for his gallant behavior" when he took control of all the...
GLC03603.226
26 April 1863
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
2 May 1863
Writes that his regiment has been building corduroy roads and gabions. Notes that some people are making "queer remarks" about General Peck. One man said that he hoped that General Peck was killed and went to hell before the soldier did. That way...
GLC03603.228
3 May 1863
Writes that there is a "heavy force across the river and the firing has been incessant." Notes that his Regiment is split in two with one half out on a mission and Coit's half camped in the woods. He passes on descriptions of fighting near the river...
GLC03603.229
10 May 1863
Writes that they are all excited by the news about [Joseph] Hooker. Coit believes that the end of the war will involve the Army of the Potomac. Notes that he shared his brother's plan to go to the Scientific School in New Haven with Colonel Harland...
GLC03603.230
24 May 1863
Says that he has hired a new servant named Bill. The Chaplin gave the soldiers a supply of new books and newspapers. Requests that his mother take the money he has sent and buy some letter paper to write him rather than the "old scraps" she has been...
GLC03603.231
5 May 1863
Sends a declaration of defeat from Major General Peck to his family with only one addition: "Bah!!"
GLC03603.232
21 May 1863
Writes that part of the regiment has been commanded to prepare three days rations and march as soon as possible. Coit and his company are to stay on duty at Fort Jerico. Says that there is nothing for him or the company to do at the fort and that he...
GLC03603.234
23 May 1863
Writes that they have returned to the same site that they had camped at a month ago but that a new camp has been erected on its site. Mentions that he plans on extending his tent by building an 'evergreen bower' and hanging his hammock. Requests that...
GLC03603.235
[General Order #75]
26 May 1863
Comments on [General Ambrose] Burnside's General Order thanking the 9th Regiment for their "behavior in their brilliant action before Suffolk, V.A." Writes that he and the others are happy to have been remembered by General Burnside and refers to him...
GLC03603.236
2 June 1863
Writes about the trip into the swamp that he took with the other officers last weekend. Also writes of a soldier who causes him trouble. He requests black pepper, black tea and other food and mess items to be sent to him. Responds to the request for...
GLC03603.238
14 June 1863
Writes that his company has been relieved of duty at Ft. Jerico and sent to rejoin their regiment. The box that his family sent has arrived and he thanks them and mentions that several of the jars had broken in shipping. Describes using sweet gum...
GLC03603.241
17 June 1863
Writes of commanding a picket line. Also, he writes of receiving word of the Rebel raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Says that he does not believe the rebellion will last much longer. Writes that he presumes that the camp they are in will soon be...
GLC03603.242
21 June 1863
Notes that they have marched and are camping near Portsmouth, Virginia. Believes that they are to wait there while Keyes' force attempts to create a diversion or capture Richmond, Virginia. Writes of the regret that the regiment feels "that our state...
GLC03603.243
22 June 1863
Writes of marching and arriving at Yorktown. Mentions that this was the site that General "McC's" troops were camped a year ago and describes an incident in which a black Rebel sharpshooter hid out in a tree and picked off the Union men until he...
GLC03603.244
7 July 1863
Reports an unsuccessful raid on Fredericksburg and Richmond, Virginia. The marching is very difficult due to the extreme heat and that several have died or been maimed by sunstroke. Though none of the men were wounded while they attempted to take the...
GLC03603.246
8 July 1863
Writes from the "White House" that they are about to march to Fort Monroe 75-80 miles away and that his family should expect no letter for a few days.
GLC03603.247
11 July 1863
Writes that they have received word of Vicksburg, Mississippi and [General Ulysses] Grant's victories. The marching is very hard on the men and he writes that half of them, himself included, are marching barefoot because of wet boots and swollen feet...
GLC03603.248
4 August 1863
Notes that he has returned from a visit to his family and is camped with new conscripts and is unsure whether he will be in charge of them or not. Says that he has purchased a leather trunk and a duster. Writes that Colonel Otis is in charge of the...
GLC03603.249
7 September 1863
Writes after his family has visited him. Says that he is feeling better. "The day and night that I was on duty we had more Conscripts in the building than at any previous time and I am most happy to say that not one escaped during 24 hours." The...
GLC03603.250
26 September 1863
Writes that they are leaving for New Haven that evening. Requests that his family not come immediately to visit. They had a very unpleasant march to New York.
GLC03603.251
13 October 1863
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
February 28, 1864
Describes his camp quarters. Notes that a good deal of his time has been spent making muster rolls detailing what each man lost while in Connecticut. Writes that the losses are due to the individual soldiers' carelessness and Lieutenant Morgan who...
GLC03603.254
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