5-8 February 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

The first part of this letter (5 February) is written while still onboard the Sentinel while the second part (8 February) is written after the Battle of Roanoke. Reports that the 8th Regiment sustained no loses. Coit was not very engaged in this fight and writes only of musket balls being fired over the heads of his regiment after going ashore. Discusses the color guard's flag being flown over the conquered rebel fort. A note at the end says "Oh if I could see you all to night I can now assure you that there is no fun in fighting…"

GLC03603.076

9 February 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "the Sentinal." Declares that his family need no longer fear for him as his regiment will be staying on Roanoke Island while other regiments move on.

GLC03603.077

10 February 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "the Sentinal." Comments that there are so many rumors about the battle that he would be glad to receive General Burnside's report when it appears in the newspaper. Gives more details about the battle and says "it was rather exciting stepping on hostile shores for the first time." Writes that there are 2000 rebel soldiers taken prisoner and that the Union now has control over the whole island.

GLC03603.078

20 February 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Describes the regiment setting up camp on the island. Also mentions becoming ill and staying with a family.

GLC03603.079

28 February 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Responds to 5 letters he has received from his family and reacts to news about his Uncle George's illness. Writes about taking a soldier from another company as his orderly until he is fully recovered. Mentions promotions within the regiment and again requests newspaper accounts of the battle of Roanoke. Written from Joshua Johnson's house on Roanoke Island.

GLC03603.080

3 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Responds to a letter received from home inquiring about his housing situation and the layout of the island. Also discredits accounts of the battle that his family has picked up, such as the rumor that Colonel Russell, one of the men killed in the battle, was shot while on horseback.

GLC03603.081

4 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

4 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about new orders to leave Roanoke Island completely in the morning. While Coit is unsure of where they are headed, he has heard that they will not be fighting soon.

GLC03603.083

9 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Mentions the boredom of being on the ship again. Describes a passing ship giving news of Burnside being promoted to Major General and that Nashville has been taken as well as 8,000 prisoners. Written on board the ship "the Sentinal," at Roanoke, Croatoan Sound.

GLC03603.084

9 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

15 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Opens by declaring, "I can now write with truth that I have been in a battle and really under fire." Writes in great detail about the battle and the 8th Regiment taking over an abandoned rebel fort. Discusses the "plunder" he finds and of files of letters left behind by the rebel soldiers that indicate that there is "a union sentiment in N. Carolina." Coit believes this is the reason for their poor fighting spirit.

GLC03603.086

16 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Reports that Captain Upham is in critical condition after being shot in the battle. Explains that the surgeons were unable to extract the musket ball. Of his performance he writes "I know no one will say that I behaved cowardly in the least." Also writes about the noble performance of Colonel Harland. Part of the letter is written on "rebel paper" (Confederate stationery). Mentions that the entire 3rd Brigade has been ordered to Fort Macon and will be traveling by train. Also discusses his fondness for General Burnside and his devotion to God. Mentions finally that Captain Upham is able to…

GLC03603.087

17 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. Describes the burning of the railroad bride by the retreating rebels as a way to prevent their capture. Ends the letter by saying that the regiment is off to Beaufort. Predicts that only 300 rebel soldier are there and that there will be no fighting.

GLC03603.088

17 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes a brief note on the back of a hand-written report. Reports that they have yet to leave for Beaufort but that they are expected to march 35-40 miles.

GLC03603.089

20 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Describes boarding "the Sentinel" and rowing to Newbern [North Carolina] to eat dinner at a hotel. Gives the death toll of the last battle as two dead and four wounded.

GLC03603.090

27 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

27 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Criticizes McClellan and gives his opinion on the Union military strategy employed in the war. Writes of having a new horse which came to him with musket ball wounds. Mentions that it is his birthday and he had not realized it until dating the letter. Written from "Carolina City," most likely in North Carolina.

GLC03603.092

4 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of his promotion to Captain of Company B. Mentions that his new title reminds him of "another Captain Coit" (perhaps his father or another relative). The promotion means he gets his own quarters and he says he will miss bunking with the Field and Staff. Writes of his ill feelings towards the prospect of Colonel Rodman becoming Brigade General and says "Don't ever repeat what I write about another officer." Mentions the bothersome amount of insects and pests in North Carolina. Written from "Carolina City."

GLC03603.093

7 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

16 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Discusses feeling very ill and being treated with quinine pills which seemed to make his fever worse. Also writes of having to fire his servant, Charles, because of drunkenness and various brushes with trouble.

GLC03603.095

18 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Responds to his mother's concerns expressed in a previous letter. She had written that "Rev. Mr. Hall" had reported to her that Coit was looking very thin through the face. Coit responds by saying he has never seen or met Hall and that his mother should take such reports with a grain of salt. Reports on smaller skirmishes with the rebels around Fort Macon and believes General Burnside will soon command them to take the fort. Also writes of the bad supply of food.

GLC03603.096

24 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Responds to news from home by saying that one of his family's boarders should be kicked out. Further says that the boarder's sons are despicable soldiers and write home with lies that are then transmitted to his family. Complains of body lice and hopes they can be treated with an ointment provided by the doctor.

GLC03603.098

26 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes with instructions on where to send his new trunk. Also complains that a box he was expecting is most likely being enjoyed by another regiment and is unlikely to reach him.

GLC03603.099

26 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

The letter begins "Fort Macon is ours." Writes of the rebel troops manning the fort raising the white flag and surrendering. Believes that the 8th Regiment should be allowed to raise their flag over the conquered fort as it was rightfully their victory. Mentions the use of 50 pound parrot guns and the damage caused to Fort Macon after ten hours of fire from the union troops. The rumor is that the Union loss during the battle was 60 men, mostly from New York's 9th Regiment. Asks that his family not spread this around as it is not confirmed yet.

GLC03603.100

28 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of his regiment being ordered back to Newbern as soon as transportation can be arrived. Looks forward to going to a city and being able to read about the battle in a newspaper.

GLC03603.101