24 April 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Notes that many different regiments are gathering in the Yorktown area. Everyone is being ordered to store or ship their possessions. Writes that all men, including the band, are being armed.

GLC03603.272

1 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he has been very busy with drilling, parading and "his papers." Notes that General Brooks is in command of his regiment and that "it should have been General Burnham." Says that the regiment is keeping 4 days cooked rations ready in order to move quickly if they receive orders to march. Thanks his family for the stockings and postage stamps that they sent and says that he is going to try to purchase new shoes, a tin cup and tobacco from town.'

GLC03603.273

4 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that the regiment is getting ready to march. Supplies have been consolidated and rations for five days have been prepared. He passes on rumors of different destinations. Writes of sending his possessions to be stored and sending money to be deposited in the name of William Rollins, a black soldier who is Coit's servant. Asks his brother, George, to add Rollins to his savings account as a trustee. Responds to the two books sent by his family, "Paradise Lost" and "Seasons."

GLC03603.274

5 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes to request stamps and change, saying that they are "secure." Says that he is very busy.

GLC03603.275

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.

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31 May 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to a female relative of Alfred Goddard

Writes that this was a draft of a letter he was preparing for a female relative of Alfred Goddard. Encloses the draft with a letter to is family. Writes detailing Alfred's bravery during battle and his dying wishes to have his possessions shipped to his mother and to thank the company for fighting so well. Notes that he and Alfred had been "brought into the closest communion" during the few months that they were together.

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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.

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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.

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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

18 June 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that his personal conditions have improved and that he has been reunited with his luggage and his wall tent. The 8th Regiment, along with Burnside's other regiments will be transferred to the 9th Corps. Mentions the leadership implications of this transfer. He gives his opinions on General Smith. Comments that he sees the Army of the Potomac as an immense hoard where "individuals, regiments or brigades are as nothing." Tells a story in which General Smith dismissed a work team who were repairing a road because it was Sunday and there was to be no working.

GLC03603.293

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

1 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He reacts to his family reminding him about his pledge not to drink liquor. Defends his drinking of liquor by saying that they only pledged not to drink it as a beverage-not as recreation. Says that he has been indulging in it quite freely.

GLC03603.295

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

9 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about being on duty as Officer of the Day and preparing for an attack that never occurred. "Isn't it grand that Alabama has at last gone under and in actual combat." Notes that the army is pleased by the news of the Rebel troops moving North. Requests more pencils and reports about the weather

GLC03603.298

12 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Requests a valise to be sent from home. Says a sutler, who is supplied by Smith and Co. in Norwich, has joined the troops. Notes that Captain Henry C. Hall was killed when he "exposed himself needlessly." Mentions two books or magazines "Atlantic" and "The River."

GLC03603.299

18 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Complains about the load of paperwork he is doing and reports that Colonel Ward is feeling unwell. Says that Ward does not stay near the field staff even when he is feeling well. Requests that his news about Ward not be repeated. Reports that Captain Goodrich is feeling better but he may lose his leg. Describes the vegetables that are available. Writes that he trusts George with all the family business while he is unable to do it. Notes that he does not expect to take Petersburg anytime soon and believes they will move again soon. Says that Colonel Steadman has a reputation of being "rashly…

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