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

19 December 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family ("Dear old Anne and all there")

Describes a package he received from his cousin Ellen, which contained food. Also asks that his brother, George, tell him what rooms and stores are rented.

GLC03603.056

29 December 1861

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Mentions that the regiment has received word that they must be ready to leave Annapolis at 12 hours notice. There is uncertainty as to where they are headed but he expresses fear that he will not be brave enough for battle. Discusses the skills and leaders of the other regiments in his division.

GLC03603.059

2 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Responds to a letter from home saying he is very concerned and will send $200 as soon as he can. Writes about officers who have resigned and one who has written a critical article about the 8th Regiment for a newspaper. This letter was dated by Coit as January 1861 but it was actually written in 1862.

GLC03603.060

3 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Worries about money matters at home. Promises to send money as soon as he can and requests that his brother, George, keep very careful account of the money coming in from rent. Writes about the poor condition of his horse and hopes that the government will give him money for a new one as The Governor was "spent in the service." Writes about his father's past military service and wonders about his early life. Mentions the promotion of Captain (Hiram) Appelman to Senior Captain. This letter was dated by Coit as January 1861 but it was actually written in 1862.

GLC03603.062

4 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he has been paid and will be sending money soon. The regiment has been assigned to sail on the H. J. Brookman and the Steamboat Chasser. They are expected to sail the next day. Mentions that he hopes his horse dies on the passage.

GLC03603.063

23-26 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "H. J. Brookman." Mentions still being anchored in the sound and finally receiving mail from home. Discusses what he is reading and how he wishes he had brought a book of poetry. Reports receiving a pair of stockings from his "third cousin Lillie Coit Collins." Says that the soldiers are very isolated from outside news and he requests that his family send a copy of Norwich's weekly Tribune. Mentions men from the boat visiting the sutler on another boat to purchase food. Discusses the way men who buy food sell it to others at a large mark-up. Also reports that a…

GLC03603.069

31 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Responds to three letters he has received from his family all at once. Reports that he has been transferred to another ship where the field staff shares a cabin.

GLC03603.072

4 February 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "the Sentinal." Provides more information about ship-board conditions including "bed bugs…large enough to carry knapsacks." Adds that his family should not speak about the poor conditions he describes as it might hurt enlistment.

GLC03603.075

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

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

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

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

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

5 May 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Thanks his family for the package and mentions getting a prayer book, a bag of tea, sardines, gumdrops and a set of brushes and combs. Written "South of Newbern," likely in North Carolina.

GLC03603.102

14 May 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about the troubles involved in sleeping in a tent and of his ill luck with receiving boxes sent by his family.

GLC03603.106

1 June 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes in defense of Dr. Storrs, the new Company doctor. Explains that many dislike him because he does not take time enquiring about their feelings but rather works from an intuitive doctor's sense. He also inspects sanitary conditions in the camp and has issued an order that all men must bathe at the 5 p.m. drum call. Responds to reports of his illness that have reached his family through other soldiers' letters by saying that they are much exaggerated. Also responds to his mother and sister proposing the idea that they go into an army hospital as nurses. Writes that he is very opposed to…

GLC03603.110

2 June 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he has sent $250 home.

GLC03603.111

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

June 23, 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he hopes to have a tailor in the company make his a coat if his family will send fabric. Is also excited that his company plans to raise up a band.

GLC03603.115

2 November 1864-6 November 1864

Morey, Charles C., fl. 1830-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Two letters. First letter apologizes for delay in communication as a result of the Battle of Cedar Creek. In his second letter he mentions that he received orders from General Ulysses S.Grant to be ready for an attack from "Mr. [Jubal] Early." Is working on muster and pay rolls every night until 11:00, and reports that he sent rolls to Washington, D.C. Mentions picket duty near a grist mill and his relationship with the mill's owners. References poor treatment of Union soldiers in Southern camps, and tells story of a Seargeant Freelove who was captured and taken prisoner by the Confederates…

GLC03523.18.30

12 June 1864

Morey, Charles C., fl. 1830-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to parents

Reports on conditions at Cold Harbor, and details the regiment's plan to cross the James River. Describes a recent meal: "I have just been to dinner and what do you guess I had? It was this good nice ham, coffee, and hard-tack soacked soft in cold water then fried in the fat it was good…." Informs his mother that prayers keep him alive. Written from camp in the field near Cold Harbor.

GLC03523.18.13