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

6 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that the regiment broke camp and marched to the wharf only to find that the ships were not ready. He, the Lieutenant Colonel and the Major all tried to find rooms at hotels but ended up hiring a small boat to take them to the ship. Is uncertain where they are headed but speaks of stopping at Fort Monroe. Written on board the ship "H. J. Brookman."

GLC03603.064

8 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "H. J. Brookman." Describes the accommodations aboard the H. J. Brookman and the differences between the officer's accommodations and those of the enlisted men. Is still unsure about direction and where mail should be sent to.

GLC03603.065

8 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "H. J. Brookman." Writes about the terrible crowding of the soldiers on the ship and compares the ship's packed condition to slave ships.

GLC03603.066

11 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "H. J. Brookman." Describes in more detail the voyage from Annapolis to the waters off the coast of Fort Monroe. Reports that several of the ships in the procession ran ashore and had to be towed off.

GLC03603.067

18 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "H. J. Brookman." Mentions that he is still on the ship and has no contact with the outside world besides the occasional conversation with a tugboat crew that sails out to the ship. Many men on the ship have been seasick but he writes that he has not been ill. The officers have been passing the time by sleeping.

GLC03603.068

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

28 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Mentions the boredom and laziness of being aboard the ship. The men pass time between meals by playing checkers and reading. Writes that Captain Harland has shared that he believes General Burnside is attempting to join the division with another group of "loyal men" on land. Harland believes that the time the division is spending on board the two boats is meant to give the other group of soldiers a chance to organize and prepare for their arrival. Written on board the ship "H. J. Brookman," in Hatteras Inlet.

GLC03603.070

29 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "H. J. Brookman," in Hatteras Inlet. Writes a quick note to enclose with his other letters saying that a steamer will take the mail to Fortress Monroe.

GLC03603.071

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

1 February 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "the Sentinal." Complains about the captain and of the Brookman's price gouging and tells of Colonel Harland's response. Writes of a missing soldier who is assumed to have fallen overboard during the night.

GLC03603.073

3 February 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "the Sentinal." Believes that the 8th regiment and other regiments in the brigade will sail tomorrow. Gives details of life on the ship including the poor quality of the food, water and sanitation. Also mentions five rebel deserters who had captured a small ship and interacted with the soldiers onboard the Sentinel. Reports that the rebels told the soldiers of the "strong Union feeling" among many of the rebel troops.

GLC03603.074

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

9 February 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "the Sentinal." Declares that his family need no longer fear for him as his regiment will be staying on Roanoke Island while other regiments move on.

GLC03603.077

10 February 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Written on board the ship "the Sentinal." Comments that there are so many rumors about the battle that he would be glad to receive General Burnside's report when it appears in the newspaper. Gives more details about the battle and says "it was rather exciting stepping on hostile shores for the first time." Writes that there are 2000 rebel soldiers taken prisoner and that the Union now has control over the whole island.

GLC03603.078

20 February 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Describes the regiment setting up camp on the island. Also mentions becoming ill and staying with a family.

GLC03603.079

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

3 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Responds to a letter received from home inquiring about his housing situation and the layout of the island. Also discredits accounts of the battle that his family has picked up, such as the rumor that Colonel Russell, one of the men killed in the battle, was shot while on horseback.

GLC03603.081

4 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Provides more details about the battle in an effort to answer some of his family's questions. Writes that the regiment is preparing to leave Roanoke Island and that the Governor survived the passage by ship and the battle.

GLC03603.082

4 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about new orders to leave Roanoke Island completely in the morning. While Coit is unsure of where they are headed, he has heard that they will not be fighting soon.

GLC03603.083

9 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Mentions the boredom of being on the ship again. Describes a passing ship giving news of Burnside being promoted to Major General and that Nashville has been taken as well as 8,000 prisoners. Written on board the ship "the Sentinal," at Roanoke, Croatoan Sound.

GLC03603.084

9 March 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Describes the other officers aboard the Sentinal. Considers the possibility of the regiment going to Beaufort or Newbern. Written on board the ship "the Sentinal."

GLC03603.085

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