21 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of the construction of three batteries around Fort Macon for use during the attack on the Fort. Complains about faulty news coverage of the battles. Gives news of the death of Dr. Lathrop, one of the Division doctors. Tells of Major Appelman being wounded by a "spent grape-shot." He has sent in an order with the sutler to get fruit and farina from Newbern. He has still not fully recovered from his illness.

GLC03603.097

9 August 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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

28 August 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of preparing to leave Fredericksburg: "This is the first time we have shown the enemy our backs, the first time we have been ordered to run and I hope the last time." In a note on the 30th says that they were expecting to fight but that the enemy never appeared. Ends with "Rumor says the enemy is advancing. If so we shall retreat I suppose."

GLC03603.139

3 September 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about the retreat from Fredericksburg and thanks his mother for the rubber coat she sent him. Writes more about Lieutenant Eaton's condition, which he says is deteriorating.

GLC03603.140

10 September 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes, "We are after Jackson. Burnside commands us and we are strong." They have heard a rumor that Jackson is in Pennsylvania with 100,000 troops.

GLC03603.142

10 October 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 with, Lieutenants Weed and Goodrich, and responds to news from home about his brother George's career choice. Also reflects on marching past the battlefield and seeing the dead bodies as either "losses" or "gains." Writes, "Live rebels, with theirs pointing towards me, I find is a much more horrid sight than heaps of them dead." Responds to a…

GLC03603.151

20 March 1863

Webb, William A., fl. 1863

Manuscript document signed

Title: [An agreement signed by Confederate officers and sailors]

Document guarantees the Union Navy that there will be no hostilities or political intrigue while the Confederates are confined to the Union ship. Has 18 signatures, including the Commander William A. Webb, William McBlair, etc. The "Atlanta," captured in June of 1863, was the first Confederate ironclad to surrender to the Union. Webb was roundly criticized for waging action against orders. He later commanded the CSS "Richmond."

GLC01007.01

23 June 1863

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Thomas H. Patterson

Written on letterhead of the U.S. Flag Ship "Minnesota." Written by Acting Rear Admiral Lee as Commander of the North Atlantic Blockade Squadron to Commander Patterson of the USS "James Adger." Lee says he has been instructed by telegraph that Major General John Dix will receive the captured crew of the CSS "Atlanta" that are currently on board the "James Adger." Tells him to proceed to Fortress Monroe, Virginia to drop them off. He is to drop off the officers of the "Atlanta" in New York at Fort Lafayette though. Lee suggested to the Department of the Navy that the "James Adger's" boilers…

GLC01007.02

20 June 1863

Reynolds, William, 1815-1879

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Thomas H. Patterson

From Commander Reynolds of the USS "Vermont" to Commander Patterson of the USS "James Adger." By order of Rear Admiral Samuel F. DuPont, Reynolds sends officers and crew of the captured CSS "Atlanta" to the "James Adger." Says a list is enclosed (see GLC01007.05). Reynolds adds a short note saying six of the wounded men as well as the ship's surgeon and hospital steward remain on the "Vermont" and that their names are not on the list. Written on blue paper. Reynolds was promoted to rear admiral in 1873.

GLC01007.03

25 June 1863

Mager, N., fl. 1863

Manuscript document signed

Title: [List of officers from captured CSS "Atlanta" transfered from the USS "James Adger" to the USS "Princeton"]

List of 18 officers from the captured CSS ironclad "Atlanta" transferred from the USS "James Adger" to the USS "Princeton." First name is of the commander, William A. Webb. Signed at the bottom by "N Mager" the Commanding Officer and Officer on Deck of the "Princeton."

GLC01007.04

February 3, 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "the Sentinal." Believes that the 8th regiment and other regiments in the brigade will sail tomorrow. Gives details of life on the ship including the poor quality of the food, water and sanitation. Also mentions five rebel deserters who had captured a small ship and interacted with the soldiers onboard the Sentinel. Reports that the rebels told the soldiers of the "strong Union feeling" among many of the rebel troops.

GLC03603.074

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

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

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

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

8 May 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of setting up new tents and using boards from the "Rebel fort" as a floor. Says that the 8th Regiment was ordered to Newbern to recruit. Complains about the lack of good and accurate press regarding the 8th Regiment and says that they have done far more hard work than they are given credit for. Also complains about the presence of ticks. Written "Near Newbern," in North Carolina.

GLC03603.103

29 June 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of having command to the picket of his brigade. The brigade is 20 miles from Richmond and Coit writes of his uncertainty of the mission's plan. Also mentions hoping to be involved in the capture of Richmond. The Division has been reassigned from the 9th A.C. to the 7th A.C.

GLC03603.117

5 July 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: 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 intended mission. The regiment is ordered back to Morehead City and Coit believes the next step is to head for James River. Mentions a quiet Fourth of July passed by staying in an abandoned barn with the regiment.

GLC03603.119

8 July 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes, "I have no doubt that Richmond will be ours within a week." False news of a defeat of McClellan's Brigade had reached the regiment only to be replaced with news of a victory. The 8th regiment is to join McClellan's Brigade once other regiments meet up near Fort Monroe. Written on board the ship "the Guide" near Fortress Monroe.

GLC03603.121

18-19 September 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He starts "Praised to God I am entirely free from even a scratch after the terrible + bloody battle of yesterday." Describes the Battle of Antietam and says that Lieutenant Eaton and Lieutenant Shepard were both wounded. Believes the regiment acted "beyond all praise." Describes the way the men under his command asked permission to break ranks after being wounded. Discusses the injuries and deaths of others and says he believes that their Regiment was beaten because they did not have proper support. Estimates that only half of the 8th Regiment left the battle without being wounded or dying.

GLC03603.144

19 September 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes more about the outcome of the battle. The regiment has guarded a bridge most of the day while the rebel soldiers have possession of the battlefield. Some of the dead and wounded Union troops are still in the field but cannot be retrieved. Counts that there are 19 or 20 dead and wounded from the 8th Regiment. Lieutenant Wait's body was later recovered from the field. His watch and other possessions had been stolen.

GLC03603.145

4 July 1863

White, Carr Bailey, 1823-1871

Manuscript telegram

Title: to unknown

Copy of a telegram from Colonel White to unknown recipient. Possibly decoded cypher. Informs that General Eliakim P. Scammon's cavalry went out to the front last night but encountered a blockaded road and were ambushed near Raleigh, West Virginia. Writes, "they are scattered in the woods and I fear have lost nearly all their horses." States that two companies have gone to assist. Written on stationary marked Headquarters, 3rd Division, 8th Army Corps.

GLC02414.184

circa 1863

Toland, John T., fl. 1863-1864

Manuscript telegram

Title: [Decoded cypher telegram to unknown]

Copy of a telegram from Colonel Toland possibly to General Eliakim P. Scammon. Written in cypher in one hand, and decoded underneath possibly in the hand of Scammon. Toland writes that the powder and fuse are not in any of the wagons and that Madden thinks they were left in the staff train. Informs that they will leave soon and that, "if the enemy has retreated and suspect our plan it will be a close race they having the shortest road." Asks for reliable information on where the enemy is going.

GLC02414.185