7 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes to request his Receipt Roll, which he accidentally sent home with his clothing return. Requests a response from his family regarding the memo he sent about the officers who died in battle. Says that the memo has yet to be published and circulated. Describes the camp that the regiment occupies. Writes that he will be getting loan of a horse.

GLC03603.307

10 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Requests more "light reading" and remarks on having read Uncle Tom's Cabin. Writes that he has received his new horse. Notes that 56 of the 100 recruits sent from New Haven have arrived and are about to begin training. Writes about the condition of the new recruits, saying that not one was American, but rather Irish, French and German. Comments that it seems his valise and papers have fallen victim to an explosion during delivery.

GLC03603.308

11 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that Captain Goodrich has returned to the regiment after recuperating at Annapolis. Comments tha he testified to the good character of Colonel Ward under oath during a hearing by the military commission. Says he put everything in a favorable light. Mentions an order by the War Department that refuses to muster out officers who have served less than three years in their present rank. Says that he feels as if others think of him as a mainstay in the Regiment and also that he is unsure of what he would like to do once he is mustered out.

GLC03603.309

15 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He writes that the U.S.G. has a new leader and that he had to give up his horse. He requests hair oil and sends sewing silk.

GLC03603.310

28 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that they have moved to a new camp. Colonel Ward is still is poor health and has requested a leave of absence. He writes of treating a "chill" with whiskey and thrashing his arms. He asks to borrow money as they have not been paid yet.

GLC03603.311

18 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that he would like to re-enlist for a period of time less than three years but that it seems impossible. He is not angry with the service or the mission but rather with the regimental management. He writes that many lives were lost when "a great freshlet" swept through the ravine where many of the troops were camped.

GLC03603.312

28 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that they have been busy moving camp and that the chaplain is ill. He also writes that Colonel Ward has recovered and has been offered a regiment.

GLC03603.314

30 August 1864

Libby, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nellie Coit

Libby writes that she has just returned from spending time with her Uncle Charlie's family at the seaside. Gives news and asks about many family and friends…

GLC03603.315

31 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that he has recovered the papers that were accidentally sent home and writes that Captain Hoyt will be taking over for Ward, who is headed home on leave.

GLC03603.316

2 September 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that he has given command of the Regiment over to Captain Hoyt since he is the superior. He is happy to have command of his company again. Discusses the policy that states that no officers will be mustered out until they have served 3 years in their current rank. Writes that under the new terms, he will not be completed with his service until 3/27/1865 (he writes 1864 but that would be a mistake as he is writing in September of 64). He also describes what he considers to be the unjust system of compensation to officers who have not been paid on time.

GLC03603.317

5 September 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda thanking his family for the valise and shoes that they have sent to him. He writes that Captain Hoyt's most pressing duty has been "guzzling whiskey." He writes that Captain Foss calls the headquarters "a public bar." Coit fears Colonel Ward's discharge because the men of the Regiment like him so much. He encloses some badges that he asks his sister to embellish with silver thread.

GLC03603.318

9 September 1864

Wait, J.T., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Morgan Coit

Wait requests information from Coit for George Pratt, an author who is preparing a sketch of Marvin. He wants to know the date of Marvin's enlistment, when the company moved from Norwich to Hartford and how long the company remained in Jamaica. Coit's answers are penciled onto the letter above the questions.

GLC03603.319

15 September 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda requesting his Ordinance return and other papers to be sent immediately by mail.

GLC03603.320

18 September 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda about a wooden shelter that has been built for him in camp. He gives more specifications on the papers he is looking for. He writes that he encloses Generals Orders No. 126 as a curiosity.

GLC03603.321.01

13 October 1864

Smith, Edward W., fl. 1864

Document

Title: 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 excavation at Dutch Gap, and elsewhere along the trenches" and that their rations match those that the Union prisoners of war reportedly receive. The order is to be read to the prisoners to inform them of the reasons for their treatment. Those attempting to escape will be shot.

GLC03603.321.02

30 September 1864

Smith, Moses, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George D. Coit

Smith (Chaplin 8th C.V.) writes to George Coit to let him know that he has just come from the battlefield and that Charles is well. He reports on the progress of the battle saying that they have captured 500 prisoners and that the 9th lost 9 officers. Charles requested his family be informed of his well-being.

GLC03603.322

4 October 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He describes the events of September 28th saying that they crossed the James river and drove Rebel troops back. The 10th of New Hampshire and the 118th of New York were the skirmishers while the 8th and 96th of New York were the support. Lt. Colonel Smith suffered a head wound. Foss was also wounded but Coit reports that neither was wounded fatally. He describes the 8th taking the fort and the two Rebel charges. "The ground was covered with killed + wounded + we took many prisoners".

GLC03603.323

10 October 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

13 October 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He writes that they were given orders to relieve the troops of the 10th Corps while they made a reconnaissance towards Richmond. When the Colonel and staff went back to "the line" Coit stayed behind to attend to office business. He says it is new to him that he should stay comfortable while other troops are "lying out." He says there will most likely not be any more fighting unless the Rebel soldiers attack.

GLC03603.325

20 October 1864

Smith, Edward W., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: General Orders 134

The order informs that the Union soldiers who were prisoners of the Confederate Army have been relieved of their duties in the trenches and orders that the Confederate soldiers being held as prisoners of war by the Union are withdrawn from their retaliatory duties. The order further states that prisoners of war wishing to take the Oath of Allegiance should be allowed to travel North and do so.

GLC03603.327

21 October 1864

Smith, Edward W., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

29 October 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

He writes that he has been wounded in the shoulder and is in the hospital. The bullet is still lodged in his side. He requests his mother's presence and says the wound prevents him from writing.

GLC03603.329

25 October 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He responds to his family's criticism over declining the promotion. One of the big issues determining wether or not to be mustered out is regiment size. Coit describes his own feelings on this as well as Captain Goodrich's. Coit continues to describe his desire for a staff position and the implications this would have for him.

GLC03603.330

28 October 1864

Smith, fl. 1684

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 immediately.

GLC03603.331

31 October 1864

Chillan, E.W., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Morgan Coit

This bill from the U.S. General Hospital charges Coit for $3 for 3 days stay at the hospital.

GLC03603.332