Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family

Friday evening Nov. 29, 61 I wrote before this morning about Solomon Howard at Gordon's asking if he would come as my servant & at what price. I suppose you will get the letter Monday in time to telegraph. I hope during the day. what a case that Daly must be I long for your letter tomorrow which I expect will explain it. I drove down to the depot last night in the rain to inquire whether any darkey had been put off at the Annapolis Junction, but the conductor said none had lately. I find no box as yet though Stanton or I inquire at depot & Express offices daily. I am hoping your letter tomorrow will say something about that also. The major's box arrived to day, that has been longer on the way than mine so I dont dispare of receiving mine yet. I want to know how Daly disposed of his $10, it was entirely sufficient for a first class passage & considerably more I think. I forgot to say the major gave me a whole roasted chicken that will last several meals. we made first rate cakes out of corn meal & buckwheat mixed, our syrup is made of sugar boiled down with water & is grand. cant get molasses that I can eat then we have white sweet potatoes, salt & fresh meat & oysters so with coffee extra we dont quite starve. Yesterday stood by, have been busy with inspection yesterday in expecting it & this fore noon it actually took place & a very tiresome job it was. the col. is on duty at the city, a Court martial, he presides & so the Lt. Col. had command & he made a perfect father so the Regt did not appear to advantage at all. The major and many of the capts were very mad about it. I wish Harland had been here, he knows what he is about. Shall be engaged all day tomorrow as I have another monthly report to make but I understand what is wanted now it will not trouble me except that it takes time. I have received my regimental box. I believe I have (third page horizontal) not told you before, it is not a very nice one, but has several compartments is large enough to carry all the papers & books & a good deal of my clothing also. it also furnishes me with a writing table after a fashion though as the hinges are on the outside, it is rather uneven but better than I had before I was with Capt Hoffman, Charlie Johnson's friend some time this morning at inspection, like him very much also like Genl Foster he is very pleasant. They were down on our muskets and knapsacks & wanted to know if Connecticut could not equip her men better than they had equiped ours - talked of condemning our arms. I dont know but they (the muskets) may be good enough but they certainly are not well finished. the ramrods are continually breaking & many of the locks were out of order when we received them, so the Capts say. It is nine o'clock & I shall have only time to get comfortably to bed before taps when I have to put out my light unless I am at work & I have to begin pretty early in morning Good night dear mo, sister, & bro Love Chas. (fourth page diagonal) Am in great haste to get your tomorrow letter & read where I am as regards Daly & the goodies. I did not expect anything of the kind & do wish it could have reached me as you expected. glad you did not know it thanksgiving Sat. Morning. very well, am going to town with my report & shall inquire about box again. I want the coat that Thompson makes made nicely, dont care how thick and rough the material is but want it made to fit for I shall probably use it as my best one as this is getting out of shape considerably this is not the place for fine broad cloth even on Dress Parade. If the coat is made well & fits any how I shall be perfectly satisfied. Harland says the cloth our coats was made from was not good & they were not made well, I have slept in mine several nights & that did not improve it any but it bodes well I have buttons if Mr T can put on shoulder straps. Love Chas.