Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.166 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Fredericksburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 November 1862 Pagination: 4 p. Order a Copy
Writes that he has asked the Quartermaster to purchase some supplies for him when he goes to Washington, D.C. to procure shoes and clothing. Describes the march and the current camp and assures his family of his comfort. Also says that the regiment has run out of candles.
Near Fredericksburg Nov. 21, 1862 Dear All, Our Quartermaster leaves us for Washington to procure shoes & clothing for our division and offers to get anything that we need & - that we can advance the money for - so I shall fork over the two $5 you last sent me & request him to buy me a - valise -, a - pound of candles -, some tobacco, look for the package your send to Harper's Ferry as we under- stand all Express was stopped at Washington I hope the whole expenditure will not be over five dollars. I shall give him this letter with direction to mail it if he succeeds in getting a valise so that you will not send by Shepard. As I do not know at all when Shepard is coming I do not like to wait & have this opportunity tho' if you should have purchased before this reaches you & cannot return it I can undoubtedly sell it here for what you pay & have the choice of the two but would prefer that it should not be sent if can be returned. Am very sorry to make so much trouble. It is now 7 o'clock PM & two as trying days & nights have passed as we have experienced for many onths. The storm has been very heavy & the shelter tents with which the men are furnished are hardly better that paper tents would be & the men lie in the - mud - with - blankets & clothes soaked - . I hope I am thankfuil that I have so good quarters. Our tent is one of the best in the Regt (a wall tent) & is quite dry & for a quarter of a dollar, the night we arrived, I purchased enough straw to keep me well off the ground, so I am compatitively comfortable but I do pity the man & they now have only - marching - rations, so they never get a good stomach full. I hope it will clear off during the night but it is doubtful yet. Every thing is necessarily quiet to day, not a gun has been fired. Report says that the rebels are massing troops round the city but it cannot be true as our posi- tion this side is the commanding one & our guns cover the river & city completely for two or three miles around. We of course are perfectly acquainted with the whole ground & I do not think there is a strong position within miles of the city. We can cross at any moment as our guns would entirely protect us & theirs could not injure us at all. I think we shall remain round here for a few days at the least until We get - shoed - again. I am so thankful that we arrived here just as we did and so avoided the hardest of the storm. Good night dearest all. I am really much more comfortable than you would imagine & have become used to it so that I dons mind it. Chas. One thing I ought perhaps to say a word more about i.e. the candles I have sent for. For a few weeks since leaving Pleasant valley we have been entirely out & have rarely had one. Our almost only light being the fires. We generally have plenty & at cheaper rates then you could get them.
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