29 November 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Still unsure about Daly's status and writes that he has been checking the station daily for him. Declares that the Major has given him a whole roasted chicken and about baking cakes with cornmeal and buckwheat. Says that General Foster spoke of condemning the regiment's arms during the inspection.

GLC03603.042

30 November 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that Daly has not/will not be arriving. Seems angry about it. Asks that his family hire anyone they can find for $25 a month and send him to Annapolis with the enclosed slip (see GLC03603.044).

GLC03603.043

30 November 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Slip prepared by Charles Morgan Coit and endorsed by Lieutenant Colonel Cunningham. States that the bearer ("colored") is his personal servant.

GLC03603.044

December 1, 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Thanks his family immensely for the box of "goodies" they have sent him. Discusses both his and Stanton's illnesses and reports that he is forced to do all his chores himself as Stanton is not well. Writes that he hopes for a servant to be arranged and sent soon. One side written upside down on a draft of a morning report.

GLC03603.045

4 December 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that the pay master has visited and that he is now acting as "A. Adjt. Genl." Complains about Stanton and gives more details about what he would like in a servant.

GLC03603.047

7 December 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on Chelsea Savings Bank stationary. Writes about praise given to him by General Foster regarding his "correct"ness when completing forms and reports. Mentions that he has sent $40 by express. Believes he has found a new servant.

GLC03603.049

8 December 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that Mrs Dr. Perkins has visited him at the camp. Also mentions that he is trusting his family to judge the character of a prospective servant they have found for him in Norwich. Of the possible promotion he says, "Ellen must not expect me to get the position of Adjt. Genl. + don't think there is hardly a chance."

GLC03603.050

9 December 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that Stanton has left and that he is receiving assistance from a soldier from Company D. Explains that he is traveling to another camp to teach the Adjutant there to write reports correctly.

GLC03603.052

13 December 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of the excellent service that Joseph B. Burlingame, the soldier from Company D, is providing. Says it may be possible to keep him as a servant even though he is a soldier. Has received a letter from William Tucker addressed to "CMC Adjt Genl 8th Regt C.V." Mentions that there are 958 men in his regiment, including the commanding officers. Believes that the division will have a very pleasant expedition because Burnside is married to Cameron's daughter and Coit does not believe he would send his son-in-law into dangerous situations.

GLC03603.053

14 December 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Reports that a review of the division went very poorly for the 8th Regiment because of the Lieutenant Colonel. Responds to news from his mother about a possible servant by saying that he will give him a try if he is under no obligation to keep him. Declares that he really likes the servant he has and would like to try to retain him.

GLC03603.054

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

13 May 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he is showing his new servant, "Napoleon," how to make baked beans with molasses. Discusses the difficulties he is having with his new position, particularly the Battalion drills. Written from "Camp on the Neuse."

GLC03603.105

20 May 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about his servant, formerly an enslaved man, selling his old horse, The Governor, for $100, of another officer having "the piles" which is apparently common among the men and that he is the one who is to seize the liquor sent to soldiers in his company. Regarding the servant, Coit uses graphic racist language to describe Black people performing spiritual songs and dance. Shares the process of how the songs are created as he understands it.

GLC03603.108

4 June 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he is to report to the jail for Court Martial duty. Is resistant to go because he does not know anyone he will be serving with. Writes that though he is supposed to be relieved of his duty to his Company during this time, he does not trust Lieutenant Shepard. Tells of Shepard inviting other officers to drink with him and having such a rowdy time that Coit had to throw them off the company ground. Soon afterward, Shepard and his servant were both very ill. Because of this incident, Harland forbids the sutler from selling alcohol in the future. Also, the incident lead to the forced…

GLC03603.112

18 July 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Writes about the ability to get day-old New York newspapers in Newport News and comments on the contents. Also mentions that he has in his company "two contrabands:" Napoleon and a 13-year-old who hid on the boat when they left Morehead. Pities the 13-year-old because of his lack of food source and shelter. Writes that more of the men from Norwich should take up arms and enlist in the army. Writes of the poor character of privates who have been under the watch of officers too long, and behave like "machines." Discusses their foolish behavior with money and with their rations, and describes…

GLC03603.125

04 August 1880

Colcock, Mary Anna, 1847-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Theodora Colcock Hutson

Comments on family matters, her children, everyday life, and servants. Letter signed Minnie, short for Mary Anna. Theodora Colcock married Charles J.C. Hutson. Mary Anna Colcock is her sister and married Joseph Dewees. Mary Anna and Theodora's parents are William Ferguson Colcock and Emmeline L. Huguenin.

GLC08165.22

05 August 1786

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Receipt for slave-catching services].

Receipt made out to James Rumsey for payment received by Daniel Neale for pursuit of "Runaway Servants" (most likely slaves). Endorsed by George Washington and George Rumsey on verso.

GLC08254

1585-1763

Bradstreet, Simon, ?-1697

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Indenture of Adam Martin].

Indenture placing Adam Martin as an appertance to James Wood for 19 years. Countersigned by Samuel Sewall.

GLC08281

1739-1740

Manuscript document

Title: Account of passengers and disposal of the servants time of service who were brought hither from Cork in Ireland on the ship John & Mary...

Title continues "James Underdowne Master on account & Visque of Capt. John Eloss Owner of said ship." Ledger page accounting for passengers and their servants on board, including pricing.

GLC08366

27 March 1864

Henry, Josiah E., 1840-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Angeline Henry

Henry writes to his sister from a camp outside Brandy Station, Virginia. Comments on the radical changes in weather. Reports that the army has been reorganized and his corps is a third larger. Expects Union General Ulysses S. Grant to take command. Reports a friend, Willy Rogers, has died of measles. Adds that Mrs. Henry Rogers (perhaps Willy's mother) "...has got a pickanina..."

GLC03523.07.25

30 July 1863

Logan, William, fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sallie Logan

Starts letter to his wife by telling her how happy he was to receive two letters from her, considering it had been so long and he was worried that she was sick or dead. Mentions that he received them yesterday, first he'd heard since "Stonemans Switch." Reports that they have been encamped for two days getting clothes for men, noting that one man did not even have shoes or socks. Tells her "My pet Pegro did not run of we got lost apart in Washington he is to good a Nigger for dat as evidence I owe him more than he took from me was worth..." Printed on Camp Chase, 21st Regiment Letterhead,…

GLC03523.12.05

26 November 1862

Wilkinson, Frederick W., fl. 1861-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amanda Wilkinson

Writes to his wife that he holds her and their baby in the highest esteem. He is also greatly saddened that he may not be able to come home during the winter. Tells her of his dreams about going home and being with her and the new baby. Because he is the company sergeant it will be harder for him to get a furlough. Captain [Hendy] resigned and went home. States that he will bring home a "fine colored boy" who is currently his cook. Likes the new General, Ambrose Burnside, better then General George McClellan who he says was "too slow to accomplish anything."

GLC03523.13.068

7 June 1865

Woolston, Benjamin A., fl. 1864-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Woolston

Writes to his wife about their son, Charles Woolston, a soldier sick with typhoid fever in the hospital whom he went to go visit. Reports that Charles is about the same. He is anxious to return home but does not know when that will be. Asks her to tell him if the girl came to help her with work. Advises her not to work so hard and not to worry.

GLC03523.26.16

28 March 1805

Knox, Henry Jackson, 1780-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Apologizes for not writing sooner, but declares that he knew his sister had written to her about their voyage, and he did not have anything to add. Mentions his and his wife, Eliza's, pleasure to be back at home. Discusses the oncoming spring weather and how it is helping business prospects, specifically regarding his father's lime business, which he works on as well. Describes his household servants. Also discusses the strength of the "jacobins" of Thomaston and the weakness of the Federalists there.

GLC02437.07924