25 March 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that General Harland has told him that there is a chance that he will be made Major of the Regiment. Requests that his family keep this a secret as he is sure that it is only a slight possibility. Says that he is relieved that General [Ambrose] Burnside has once again assumed command over the 9th Regiment. Written at Camp Suffolk.

GLC03603.214

27 March 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family/Orderly Gammwell

Writes that he wishes that the receiver's furlong would be long enough to cast a vote for "the suppression of Rebellion". Makes reference to the Hartford Convention of 1863. A draft of a note written to Orderly Gammwell but sent to his family with an explanatory note at the end.

GLC03603.215

29 March 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes he and his company wish they could go back to Connecticut to vote on the Conscription Act, which calls for a draft and excuses men who can furnish a viable replacement or pay the government $300. Says he has heard that an officer cannot walk through the streets of Hartford, Connecticut without being deeply insulted. Writes of wounded men being laughed at by some of the same people who encouraged them to enlist. Notes he had a portrait taken.

GLC03603.216

29 March 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Responds to questions from his family about fixtures in their rental properties. Expresses interest in the results of the election and requests that a chess set be sent to him via one of the Norwich men who are home on furlough. Writes that he has sent $370 via another solider traveling to Norwich last week. Writes of the weather getting warmer and of seeing daffodils bloom in the yards in Suffolk. Describes how the soldiers spend Sunday, with detail about what activities they avoid on the Sabbath. Says that he believes that Captain Hoyt would be of better service to the regiment if "he…

GLC03603.217

30 March 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that the enemy is surrounding Suffolk and "The cannon[s] are cannons are booming away at short intervals," though they have not been attacked yet. Notes that one of the pickets from his Regiment was attacked a few days ago. His brigade has been ordered to different places around the camp to keep guard.

GLC03603.218

2 April 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he is in command of a picket of 50 men. He does not believe there is any reason to be afraid of attack as they have been withdrawing their forces during the day.

GLC03603.219

31 March 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he does not believe that there is any further danger of attack. He says "tho' the gunboats keep firing away I doubt whether they see anything to fire at."

GLC03603.220

3 April 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he has been very busy making up his equipment and Ordinance reports. He can hear the 103rd New York Regiment band serenading Colonel Beach's lady. Mentions the money that he sent via Captain Moore again and the photographs of Colonel Ward and Forrest Spafford that he has enclosed. Writes that he has forgotten about his birthday until a few days afterward.

GLC03603.221

5 April 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about the dismissal of Lieutenant Samuel Foss and responds to a letter sent by his family mentioning George Coit living away from home to attend school.

GLC03603.222

22 April 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about going on a recognizance mission to check out some houses beyond the picket line. The mission was commanded by Captain Stevens, who Coit believed had scoped out the area and deemed the mission safe. Reports being fired at by no fewer than 30 men who were "only a few rods off." Says he does not believe he was at fault for leading the men into danger as he had advised Captain Stevens to send skirmishers out to scout the area and the suggestion was rejected. Notes he carries an immense feeling of guilt and says "I would give all the money I expect to earn for a long time if I had…

GLC03603.225

23 April 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that the regiment has established a camp near the portion of the river that they are trying to defend. Comments about Colonel Ward having command over a few regiments as a "compliment for his gallant behavior" when he took control of all the troops. Says that he is unsure of the "shape of the enemy" and that his field glass is very useful.

GLC03603.226

26 April 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that they marched to Fort Dix. Describes General Corcoran and 6-8,000 troops going on a recognizance mission and retreating when they saw a rebel battery with a few hundred troops manning it. Criticizes other recent military moves and complains about the newspapers giving all the credit to the New York regiments. Requests that a vest be made for him and that his family send a new strap for his field glass.

GLC03603.227

2 May 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that his regiment has been building corduroy roads and gabions. Notes that some people are making "queer remarks" about General Peck. One man said that he hoped that General Peck was killed and went to hell before the soldier did. That way, Peck would get there first and have it so well fortified that the solider would not be able to get in.

GLC03603.228

3 May 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that there is a "heavy force across the river and the firing has been incessant." Notes that his Regiment is split in two with one half out on a mission and Coit's half camped in the woods. He passes on descriptions of fighting near the river, saying that the Rebels were "in rifle pits as usual." Believes that the goal of the Rebels is to capture part of the railroad and "forage the whole country and prevent the planting."

GLC03603.229

10 May 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that they are all excited by the news about [Joseph] Hooker. Coit believes that the end of the war will involve the Army of the Potomac. Notes that he shared his brother's plan to go to the Scientific School in New Haven with Colonel Harland. Says that Harland's reaction was that George would get a much more valuable education there than he would at Yale.

GLC03603.230

24 May 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Says that he has hired a new servant named Bill. The Chaplin gave the soldiers a supply of new books and newspapers. Requests that his mother take the money he has sent and buy some letter paper to write him rather than the "old scraps" she has been using. Notes that he waits until he is alone in his tent to open his letters because of the poor quality of the paper. Requests news from home on the marriages of Mrs. Bull and Mrs. Dyer. Sends his regards to his extended family and friends and requests a green checkered shirt. Responds to news that a doctor from Connecticut is planning on…

GLC03603.231

5 May 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Sends a declaration of defeat from Major General Peck to his family with only one addition: "Bah!!"

GLC03603.232

21 May 1863

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that part of the regiment has been commanded to prepare three days rations and march as soon as possible. Coit and his company are to stay on duty at Fort Jerico. Says that there is nothing for him or the company to do at the fort and that he stays in his hammock most of the day. Requests more underclothes and says that his trunk is nearly full.

GLC03603.234

January 23, 1822

Kirkland, John T., 1770-1840

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Kirkland, writing as President of Harvard University, sends Hobart a memorial to Congress (not included) made by the Harvard Corporation "united with other institutions" related to "the importation of books."

GLC06313.04.144

January 30, 1822

Lincoln, Rufus, 1751-1838

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Writes about his petition to Congress for support due to him for eight years military service and time as a prisoner of war during the American Revolution. Comments on his economic hardship and previous rejections of his petitions.

GLC06313.04.145

January 31, 1822

Sampson, Zabdiel, 1781-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Discusses and endorses the Mackerel Fishery bill then before the Congress, which Samson had worked on when he was a congressman.

GLC06313.04.146

February 1, 1822

Turner, Charles, 1760-1839

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Discusses the divided local opinion on the topic of a bankruptcy bill before congress. Also discusses the pension application of one of Hobart's constituents.

GLC06313.04.147

15 March 1866

McSherry, Anna, 1833-?

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry F. McSherry [incomplete]

Written by Anna to her brother Henry. Says she is sorry she sent her last letter, which reported that Henry's resignation was accepted and that another surgeon was being sent to replace him. Says it is not true. Says Admirals Lee and De Clymer both intervened in Washington to keep the resignation from going through. Wonders where he is and says "how I would like that wonderful trunk of the Danish storyteller Anderson to carry me to China and in ... the Wyoming." Says their father is still anxious about his resignation and that he would "just [be] throwing away what is most valuable, a…

GLC03523.21.52

28 March 1866

McSherry, Richard M., 1792-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry F. McSherry

Written by Richard to his son Henry. Makes reference to Henry's sister Anna returning from Washington where bureaucratic infighting involving Henry's resignation was taking place. Says reports of intemperance were stated against him. Says "Do my dear boy quit the poison I believe I once before went to you on the subject. It will destroy soul and body, distress fathers[,] sisters[,] and brothers." Envelope marked by Henry stating that the letter was received in Hong Kong on 5 May 1866.

GLC03523.21.54

15 July 1864

Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother John McKinley Gibson

A camp rumor states that Sherman gave up his campaign against Atlanta and is fortifying along the Chatahoochee. "But this is mere conjecture." Gibson goes on to offer offensive diversions to draw Sherman from Atlanta, such as massing Confederate troops along the Potomac or attacking Sherman's Army in the rear. "Kin" is John McKinley Gibson's nickname.

GLC04501.023