18 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes an additional letter to include things he had forgotten. Requests a pair of cavalry boots and describes the type and size.

GLC03603.301

23 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Encloses this draft of a memo to all officers in letter no. 303a. The memo announced the deaths of Captain John McCall, Captain Henry C. Hall, Alfred M. Goddard and Levi C. Bingham. It also recommended that all officers wear crepe morning band for an unspecified number of days.

GLC03603.302

23 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about the promotions process in the 8th. Notes about letter no. 302 and his feelings surrounding the memo. Comments that General Ord is now in command. Requests a bottle of Osgood's Cologne.

GLC03603.303

25 July 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Says he is considering not reenlisting in September. Notes that the camped was "shelled" the night before but no one was hurt. Writes that most of the best officers have been killed or wounded and that re-enlisting would mean being in the company of men who are "anything but agreeable." Requests envelopes and restates his boot size.

GLC03603.304

July 28, 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes in response to a letter from his family, outraged that they have not received all the letters he has written. Gives more instructions on the kind of boots he wants. Notes that he has been enjoying canned fruit and milk. Says that he receives extra goodies when he is commanding the regiment. Reiterates his intentions to leave the army after his three year commitment and mentions that all of the officers who he considers descent will be leaving in the fall if they have not already been killed or wounded. Writes about the relief of General Smith. Believes it is because of tension between…

GLC03603.305

3 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about the regiment's defeat after blowing up a rebel fort. Mentions a black regiment fighting along with them. "Everything has been gained and now everything has been lost."

GLC03603.306

7 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes to request his Receipt Roll, which he accidentally sent home with his clothing return. Requests a response from his family regarding the memo he sent about the officers who died in battle. Says that the memo has yet to be published and circulated. Describes the camp that the regiment occupies. Writes that he will be getting loan of a horse.

GLC03603.307

10 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Requests more "light reading" and remarks on having read Uncle Tom's Cabin. Writes that he has received his new horse. Notes that 56 of the 100 recruits sent from New Haven have arrived and are about to begin training. Writes about the condition of the new recruits, saying that not one was American, but rather Irish, French and German. Comments that it seems his valise and papers have fallen victim to an explosion during delivery.

GLC03603.308

11 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that Captain Goodrich has returned to the regiment after recuperating at Annapolis. Comments tha he testified to the good character of Colonel Ward under oath during a hearing by the military commission. Says he put everything in a favorable light. Mentions an order by the War Department that refuses to muster out officers who have served less than three years in their present rank. Says that he feels as if others think of him as a mainstay in the Regiment and also that he is unsure of what he would like to do once he is mustered out.

GLC03603.309

15 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He writes that the U.S.G. has a new leader and that he had to give up his horse. He requests hair oil and sends sewing silk.

GLC03603.310

28 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that they have moved to a new camp. Colonel Ward is still is poor health and has requested a leave of absence. He writes of treating a "chill" with whiskey and thrashing his arms. He asks to borrow money as they have not been paid yet.

GLC03603.311

18 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that he would like to re-enlist for a period of time less than three years but that it seems impossible. He is not angry with the service or the mission but rather with the regimental management. He writes that many lives were lost when "a great freshlet" swept through the ravine where many of the troops were camped.

GLC03603.312

28 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that they have been busy moving camp and that the chaplain is ill. He also writes that Colonel Ward has recovered and has been offered a regiment.

GLC03603.314

31 August 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that he has recovered the papers that were accidentally sent home and writes that Captain Hoyt will be taking over for Ward, who is headed home on leave.

GLC03603.316

2 September 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda that he has given command of the Regiment over to Captain Hoyt since he is the superior. He is happy to have command of his company again. Discusses the policy that states that no officers will be mustered out until they have served 3 years in their current rank. Writes that under the new terms, he will not be completed with his service until 3/27/1865 (he writes 1864 but that would be a mistake as he is writing in September of 64). He also describes what he considers to be the unjust system of compensation to officers who have not been paid on time.

GLC03603.317

5 September 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda thanking his family for the valise and shoes that they have sent to him. He writes that Captain Hoyt's most pressing duty has been "guzzling whiskey." He writes that Captain Foss calls the headquarters "a public bar." Coit fears Colonel Ward's discharge because the men of the Regiment like him so much. He encloses some badges that he asks his sister to embellish with silver thread.

GLC03603.318

15 September 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda requesting his Ordinance return and other papers to be sent immediately by mail.

GLC03603.320

18 September 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes from camp Bermuda about a wooden shelter that has been built for him in camp. He gives more specifications on the papers he is looking for. He writes that he encloses Generals Orders No. 126 as a curiosity.

GLC03603.321.01

4 October 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He describes the events of September 28th saying that they crossed the James river and drove Rebel troops back. The 10th of New Hampshire and the 118th of New York were the skirmishers while the 8th and 96th of New York were the support. Lt. Colonel Smith suffered a head wound. Foss was also wounded but Coit reports that neither was wounded fatally. He describes the 8th taking the fort and the two Rebel charges. "The ground was covered with killed + wounded + we took many prisoners".

GLC03603.323

10 October 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He writes that he is on duty on Brigade Staff as Acting Adjt. General and live in a house. He feels that it is a position of honor. He has forwarded $600 of his pay home. He writes on U.S. Sanitary Commission stationary.

GLC03603.324

13 October 1864

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

He writes that they were given orders to relieve the troops of the 10th Corps while they made a reconnaissance towards Richmond. When the Colonel and staff went back to "the line" Coit stayed behind to attend to office business. He says it is new to him that he should stay comfortable while other troops are "lying out." He says there will most likely not be any more fighting unless the Rebel soldiers attack.

GLC03603.325

16 October 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that Charlie Johnson left after visiting from Norwich for five days. Writes that he is more homesick than ever and hopes that the 8th Regiment will be sent to Connecticut to recruit new soldiers and supplement their depleted ranks.

GLC03603.155

20 October 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that the regiment is in need of knapsacks and dress coats. Believes that he will be sent to Washington to pick up the needed items. Describes his soldier's coat and requests that his mother send new shirts. Writes that all but three of Connecticut's 11th Regiment's field officers have decided to resign. Explains that he was forced to direct the dress parade because none of the higher-ranking officers were present. Closes the letter with a note saying that he is headed to Washington.

GLC03603.156

22 October 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Describes the new suit he purchased and the errands he ran for the regiment. This included arranging baggage transportation and passes for himself and the ten men that are along to help him. Writes of seeing General McClellan and his wife and baby at the train station. Also writes about hearing word that a third wounded soldier died at home. Written from the National Hotel, in Washington, D.C.

GLC03603.157

25 October 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he arrived back to camp with the supplies much earlier than expected. The regiment has been given orders to march the next morning and rumor has it that they are traveling 6-8 miles down the river to Berlin.

GLC03603.158