12 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes aboard the "The George Washington" that they are landing at City Point. Says that he does not believe that there will be any fighting and is unsure of where they are headed afterwards.

GLC03603.278

18 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that he awaits the return of papers that he accidentally sent home. He will loose pay without them. He writes that a group of soldiers coming to join the picket line were attacked by rebel soldiers and wounded.

GLC03603.313

17 October 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He writes that he has inspected the whole Brigade (5 Regiments) and that his hand is tired from writing. He describes the content of the inspection blanks. He writes that he has received a commission as Major, which he considers an insult and plans to decline. He intends to obtain a staff position. He believes he has done his full duty and wishes that someone else would try to fill his shoes and uphold the reputation that he has worked hard to create and maintain. He writes that he is frequently asked why he has not been promoted and that it has embarrassed him. Now he will be able to say…

GLC03603.326

23 May 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that they have returned to the same site that they had camped at a month ago but that a new camp has been erected on its site. Mentions that he plans on extending his tent by building an 'evergreen bower' and hanging his hammock. Requests that his family send him his mosquito bar, a vest and some strong cord. Says that he had considered asking for sheets to be sent from home but has decided to get them from the hospital. "You see I am getting decidedly luxurious in my tastes for a soldier but I can assure you we know how to appreciate such things after roughing it for so long." Writes…

GLC03603.235

17 June 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of commanding a picket line. Also, he writes of receiving word of the Rebel raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Says that he does not believe the rebellion will last much longer. Writes that he presumes that the camp they are in will soon be evacuated and that his Regiment will not be called to oppose General [Robert E.] Lee's men in Maryland or Pennsylvania.

GLC03603.242

21 June 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Notes that they have marched and are camping near Portsmouth, Virginia. Believes that they are to wait there while Keyes' force attempts to create a diversion or capture Richmond, Virginia. Writes of the regret that the regiment feels "that our state has lost a set of colors" during battle. Describes Lt. Foss feeling ill and being treated with opium. Notes that they have received orders to march at 2 a.m. with only their tents and blankets.

GLC03603.243

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

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 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

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

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

5 June 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Thanks God for preserving him through the days of danger and suffering. Writes about his feelings about acting as a commander. Notes that he read the last letter from his family "with the bullets whistling over me".

GLC03603.288

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

June 13, 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that the regiment has left the Army of the Potomac and are bound for Bermuda. Describes what he understands as the strategic reasons for their being ordered to move. Says that the loss from the previous battle was 33 killed and wounded. Writes that all the troops are about ready to "give out."

GLC03603.290

16 June 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about marching from Point of Rocks to a camp and then on towards Petersburg. Describes the 8th regiment driving rebel soldiers back into the woods. Gives more details about the fighting and says that the loss was very slight. Writes that the officers have taken up residence in a house and that he has been able to stand very close to General Grant.

GLC03603.292

24 June 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that, after 48 hours "at the front" they have been relieved. He writes about taking over a "pit" that contained fancy furniture that had been stolen. Describes battle with the rebel soldiers and reacts to news from home. Says that he does not sleep very much. Also writes about reading the Spectator and the Atlantic and about food prices.

GLC03603.294

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

6 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about the hardships of being shuffled from the front to the back. Responds to news about Beckwith and James Jennings, both soldiers from Connecticut who have suffered what Coit believes to be self-inflicted wounds. Describes motivating frightened soldiers with threats. Discusses the clean springs near the rifle pits that Coit says provide good water while they are fighting.

GLC03603.297