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

17 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes a brief note on the back of a hand-written report. Reports that they have yet to leave for Beaufort but that they are expected to march 35-40 miles.

GLC03603.089

20 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Describes boarding "the Sentinel" and rowing to Newbern [North Carolina] to eat dinner at a hotel. Gives the death toll of the last battle as two dead and four wounded.

GLC03603.090

27 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of the trip from Newbern, up Slocum's Creek to Carolina (most likely North Carolina). Describes conditions of the camps and on the march. Also thanks his family for the maps they have sent him. Written from "Carolina City."

GLC03603.091

27 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Criticizes McClellan and gives his opinion on the Union military strategy employed in the war. Writes of having a new horse which came to him with musket ball wounds. Mentions that it is his birthday and he had not realized it until dating the letter. Written from "Carolina City," most likely in North Carolina.

GLC03603.092

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

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

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

28 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of his regiment being ordered back to Newbern as soon as transportation can be arrived. Looks forward to going to a city and being able to read about the battle in a newspaper.

GLC03603.101

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

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

12 May 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he needs to study his "Tactics" because he makes blunders while drilling his Division. Written "Near Newbern," in North Carolina.

GLC03603.104

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

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

15 May 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of receiving a compliment from the Colonel and the Major regarding the condition of his Company during an inspection of the camp. Company B was not used to receiving compliments and Coit writes that the men "were exceedingly pleased" and that their pride has been awakened. Writes that he has heard word that any liquor sent to the Company will be seized and disposed of. Written "Near Newbern," in North Carolina.

GLC03603.107

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

May 25, 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of some men from his company bringing him pints of blackberries that they had picked. Also writes about the task of confiscating liquor from the boxes which were sent to the men. His thoughts on this responsibility illustrate his ideas about leadership and discipline. Also describes a boat trip that he took with a few other officers on the Trent River. Written "Near Newbern," North Carolina.

GLC03603.109

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