27 March 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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. Requests books and thanks his family for the newspapers they have sent him. Also describes the bothersome habits of Alfred Goddard.

GLC03603.260

1 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he has been in Norfolk and Portsmouth on business for the regiment. Notes that Sam Foss was ill with cholic and that Alfred Goddard knew how to treat it.

GLC03603.262

3 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that there is more religious interest in the camp lately and describes Regiment Captain Ford standing at a prayer meeting to say that he was giving up alcohol and cursing in favor of living a Christian lifestyle. Notes that his birthday passed without him realizing it. Says that he does not know what he will do after his service is up as he feels "more and more unsettled and less like going back to banking."

GLC03603.263

3 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

April 5, 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Coit

Requests a chess handbook and describes a company box that he has acquired to hold his books and other belongings. Writes that he is in command of the Regiment because Captain Hoyt is in Portsmouth attending a court martial.

GLC03603.265

12 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Describes a quiet camp and reading a novel called "Pique" until his candle went out at 4 a.m. Thanks her for sending a book called "Lady of the Lake." Describes singing hymns with the other officers and requests that he be sent his chess set from home. Notes that the regiment does not get very many recruits and that those they do get tend to desert. Writes that there is to be an execution of a deserter who Coit believes joined the Rebel side.

GLC03603.267

17 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 Getty's Station. While on out on march, they set up camp on a night that is very cold. Since they have all been soaked during the daytime march, the men are very cold. The officers take shelter with a black Cavalry. "I would like to see a nigger with a skin so black that I would not sleep with him if he had a good blanket." He comments on the local…

GLC03603.268

18 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Requests more shirts and says that his friend would like for Coit's mother to share the pattern with his mother so that he can also have one. Aso asks for more socks and says that there is a rumor that they will be marching to Newport News very soon.

GLC03603.269

15 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes a short note about marching from camp to Suffolk, Virginia and then back again. Requests woolen stockings.

GLC03603.270

21 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that they broke camp and marched to Deep Creek and then to Portsmouth. Notes that he has shipped his trunk to be held at New Haven post office until he calls for it again. Request postage stamps and woolen socks.

GLC03603.271

24 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Notes that many different regiments are gathering in the Yorktown area. Everyone is being ordered to store or ship their possessions. Writes that all men, including the band, are being armed.

GLC03603.272

1 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he has been very busy with drilling, parading and "his papers." Notes that General Brooks is in command of his regiment and that "it should have been General Burnham." Says that the regiment is keeping 4 days cooked rations ready in order to move quickly if they receive orders to march. Thanks his family for the stockings and postage stamps that they sent and says that he is going to try to purchase new shoes, a tin cup and tobacco from town.'

GLC03603.273

4 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

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."

GLC03603.274

5 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes to request stamps and change, saying that they are "secure." Says that he is very busy.

GLC03603.275

17 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he has returned to a camp in an undetermined location after being beaten in battle by a much smaller force. Describes fighting in dense fog at the command of Colonel Smith. Says that the regiment split during battle and Coit and many other men got lost in the woods. Notes that he and a few other men occupied a brick house and held it. Writes that many men were wounded and others fell into enemy hands. "I never felt so perfectly above all fear as during the heavy fighting early in the day, the crisis seemed too great for any such personal feeling and through it all with the bullets…

GLC03603.276

8 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he is lucky to be alive after a battle. Says that Alfred Goddard was seriously wounded in the abdomen and he fears that Alfred will not recover. Details his behaviors and bravery during the battle and says that he received the best care possible. Writes that he has some of Alfred's things. Estimates that 80 men were lots, 4 of them officers. Written near Petersburg, Virginia

GLC03603.277

11 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he is well and was engaged in fighting the last two days. Notes that the regiments losses were small. Says that the railroad was destroyed and that the soldiers are working on restoring it. Mentions that he has heard nothing about Alfred Goddard's condition.

GLC03603.279

31 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to a female relative of Alfred Goddard

Writes that this was a draft of a letter he was preparing for a female relative of Alfred Goddard. Encloses the draft with a letter to is family. Writes detailing Alfred's bravery during battle and his dying wishes to have his possessions shipped to his mother and to thank the company for fighting so well. Notes that he and Alfred had been "brought into the closest communion" during the few months that they were together.

GLC03603.280

15 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes seven miles from Richmond that the regiment is occupying a line of entrenchments that were captured the day before. Says that they are within sight of a rebel fort but have had no heavy fighting in the past few days. Notes that he doesn't anticipate heavy battle as the regiment has pushed as far as it had intended to go and he anticipated falling back soon. Believes that the fort "ahead" is part of the Drewry Bluff line.

GLC03603.281

15 May 1864

Spafford, Forest, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the family of Charles Morgan Coit

Forrest Spafford writes to the Coit family to assure them of Charles' safety. He writes that the regiment occupies the area around Fort Darling and tells the family about the skills of the regimental sharp shooters. Charles Coit requested that Spafford write a letter to his family when he returned to camp to ease their minds.

GLC03603.282

16 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he feels as if the Brigader has forgotten the regiment and makes a comparison between officers with military educations to those who lack them. Tells about an attack two days before. Describes the temporary staffing changes due to the losses during battle. Also writes about the damage to the railroad lines being repaired.

GLC03603.283

19 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that they endured a "flogging" from the rebels on Monday night. Notes that there is an order to clear trees in front of the rifle pits. He requests money.

GLC03603.284

29 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of commanding the regiment in place of Colonel Ward and of embarking to join [General Ulysses] Grant's army. Notes that four of the companies lost all of their baggage when the rebels captured it. Says that he found and sent home Alfred's valise with some of his own things enclosed.

GLC03603.285

31 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from the "White House" that his regiment is expecting to stay here to hold it as a base for Grant's army but they have been ordered to move again. "I hope that if we are about to go into action & danger that we shall at least have the satisfaction of thinking that we are under a commander who is accomplishing something & that we are helping even if so little towards ending the Rebellion." Includes a summary of how many officers and staff are still with the regiment.

GLC03603.286

3 June 1864

Spafford, Forest, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the family of Charles Morgan Coit

Writes on Coit's behalf. Says that the regiment has joined Grant's group and is at the center of their "line of battle." Comments about the position of the enemy and the condition of the regiment.

GLC03603.287