22 June 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

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, himself was shot. Says that the men will embark the next day for West Point where, it is rumored, [General Joseph] Hooker's and [General Robert E.] Lee's army's are fighting.

GLC03603.244

7 July 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

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 bridge, several were taken prisoner while straggling behind during marching. Mentions that General Getty commanded the expedition, General Harland commanded Coit's division and that Colonel Stedman commanded Coit's brigade.

GLC03603.246

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

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

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

9 June 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he has been in the rear trenches for a day and will be moving to the front at night. Reports that the regiment consistently loses men in the battle. Writes of leaving the trenches to track down the regiment's luggage. Says that the Lieutenant Colonel Burpee was shot and killed in battle.

GLC03603.289

3 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that his regiment is "in the rear" to rest but that they are still working very hard. Notes that Captain Goodrich was shot while lying right next to him. Also writes that he has lost Colonel Sergeant Glover, one of the best men in his platoon.

GLC03603.296

12 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Requests a valise to be sent from home. Says a sutler, who is supplied by Smith and Co. in Norwich, has joined the troops. Notes that Captain Henry C. Hall was killed when he "exposed himself needlessly." Mentions two books or magazines "Atlantic" and "The River."

GLC03603.299

23 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Encloses this draft of a memo to all officers in letter no. 303a. The memo announced the deaths of Captain John McCall, Captain Henry C. Hall, Alfred M. Goddard and Levi C. Bingham. It also recommended that all officers wear crepe morning band for an unspecified number of days.

GLC03603.302

23 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about the promotions process in the 8th. Notes about letter no. 302 and his feelings surrounding the memo. Comments that General Ord is now in command. Requests a bottle of Osgood's Cologne.

GLC03603.303

25 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Says he is considering not reenlisting in September. Notes that the camped was "shelled" the night before but no one was hurt. Writes that most of the best officers have been killed or wounded and that re-enlisting would mean being in the company of men who are "anything but agreeable." Requests envelopes and restates his boot size.

GLC03603.304

July 28, 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes in response to a letter from his family, outraged that they have not received all the letters he has written. Gives more instructions on the kind of boots he wants. Notes that he has been enjoying canned fruit and milk. Says that he receives extra goodies when he is commanding the regiment. Reiterates his intentions to leave the army after his three year commitment and mentions that all of the officers who he considers descent will be leaving in the fall if they have not already been killed or wounded. Writes about the relief of General Smith. Believes it is because of tension between…

GLC03603.305

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

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

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

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

February 11, 1822

Smith, Albert, 1793-1867

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Discusses family and local news. Mentions worry about Hobart's sick infant, an older man and woman near death, and a four year old whose clothes caught fire and was burned to death. Comments on law lagging behind other professions, "as money is plenty for good notes." A post script urges Hobart to show Smith's reports to Mr. Homans, send a newspaper to the postmaster occasionally, and "remember my unkle N. Smith."

GLC06313.04.151

22 October 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Describes the new suit he purchased and the errands he ran for the regiment. This included arranging baggage transportation and passes for himself and the ten men that are along to help him. Writes of seeing General McClellan and his wife and baby at the train station. Also writes about hearing word that a third wounded soldier died at home. Written from the National Hotel, in Washington, D.C.

GLC03603.157

5 December 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Describes his thankfulness at being able to have shelter in the mansion during a snowstorm. Writes that he has filled out a Quarterly Return of Deceased Soldiers. There are reports that a soldier from the 21st Regiment froze to death in the night. Requests a pair of field glasses for Christmas. The letter is written on the back of a draft of a letter to General Thomas. Written from Lacey Mansion, in Falmouth, Virginia.

GLC03603.170

19 December 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that the Lacey Mansion is being used as a hospital and that the officers are staying in a two-room outhouse. Estimates that the battle has cost the Union side 10,000 and does not see any other result of the four days of battle.

GLC03603.174