3 January 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Worries about money matters at home. Promises to send money as soon as he can and requests that his brother, George, keep very careful account of the money coming in from rent. Writes about the poor condition of his horse and hopes that the government will give him money for a new one as The Governor was "spent in the service." Writes about his father's past military service and wonders about his early life. Mentions the promotion of Captain (Hiram) Appelman to Senior Captain. This letter was dated by Coit as January 1861 but it was actually written in 1862.

GLC03603.062

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

January 11, 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

January 18, 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

January 23-January 26, 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

January 28, 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

21 April 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of the construction of three batteries around Fort Macon for use during the attack on the Fort. Complains about faulty news coverage of the battles. Gives news of the death of Dr. Lathrop, one of the Division doctors. Tells of Major Appelman being wounded by a "spent grape-shot." He has sent in an order with the sutler to get fruit and farina from Newbern. He has still not fully recovered from his illness.

GLC03603.097

18 June 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that he will attempt to take a furlong at the end of the month. Makes reference to staying at Miss S. G. C.'s house during his time off. Thanks his family for the photograph of his brother ("the young man in the Insurance Company"). Also scolds his family for spreading the information of him seizing the liquor from the soldiers.

GLC03603.114

2 August 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes that they have been ordered away with an unknown destination. Expresses distaste at new enlistees being given bounties. Instead, he believes that the states should draft men and attempt to refill the old regiments. Writes, "I can hardly keep from swearing when I think how everything seems to be so mismanaged, especially the enlistments."

GLC03603.130

4 August 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Describes the passage, by boat, to Acquia Creek from Newport News. Also writes that the officers plan to erect a monument to Dr. Lathrop and that he will consult with the doctor's widow to see what she would like done. Makes reference to a monument being erected for his father in the past.

GLC03603.131

9 August 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of traveling by train to Fredericksburg. Requests news of how the recruitment is going in Connecticut. Does not believe that his regiment will see fighting in Richmond because the Union troops greatly outnumber the rebel troops.

GLC03603.132

28 August 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of preparing to leave Fredericksburg: "This is the first time we have shown the enemy our backs, the first time we have been ordered to run and I hope the last time." In a note on the 30th says that they were expecting to fight but that the enemy never appeared. Ends with "Rumor says the enemy is advancing. If so we shall retreat I suppose."

GLC03603.139

3 September 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes about the retreat from Fredericksburg and thanks his mother for the rubber coat she sent him. Writes more about Lieutenant Eaton's condition, which he says is deteriorating.

GLC03603.140

6 September 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes of the compliments that the 8th Regiment has received on their marching skills. Describes his uniform fading and the bright uniforms of the new enlistees. Writes, "The large bounties being paid to new Regts are killing the spirits of all the old troops."

GLC03603.141

10 September 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Writes, "We are after Jackson. Burnside commands us and we are strong." They have heard a rumor that Jackson is in Pennsylvania with 100,000 troops.

GLC03603.142

25 September 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Reports that they have been ordered to Harpers Ferry. Writes that he will be unable to take his furlough because of Lieutenant Eaton's and Lieutenant Shepard's injuries from battle. Requests that newspapers with stories about the battle be saved or mailed to him. Also mentions that the regiment may go to Washington, D.C. to recruit. Describes the Chaplain's heroic service to the regiment during the battle, saying that he was the last to walk off the field though slightly wounded. Also says that though the 8th regiment had many wounded and a few killed, that other regiments and companies had…

GLC03603.146

10 October 1862

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his family

Describes the views from the march from Antietam. Also predicts that Colonel Harland will soon be promoted to Brigadier, but is concerned that the Colonel will not ask men to be references in his favor. Writes about the other men he is sharing a tent with, Lieutenants Weed and Goodrich, and responds to news from home about his brother George's career choice. Also reflects on marching past the battlefield and seeing the dead bodies as either "losses" or "gains." Writes, "Live rebels, with theirs pointing towards me, I find is a much more horrid sight than heaps of them dead." Responds to a…

GLC03603.151

January 29, 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

January 31, 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

February 1, 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

February 3, 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

February 4, 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