Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.241 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Suffolk, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 June1863 Pagination: 3 p. Order a Copy
Writes that his company has been relieved of duty at Ft. Jerico and sent to rejoin their regiment. The box that his family sent has arrived and he thanks them and mentions that several of the jars had broken in shipping. Describes using sweet gum bark tea to help cure him of diarrhea. Comments about food prices and reports that his servant is doing very well.
Sunday P.M. 4 o'clock
Dear All, My company was this AM relieved from duty at Ft. Jericho & ordered to report to the Regt. The whole of this day has been occupied in moving & I can yet hardly call myself settled. I do not know any reason for our being relieved but it may be to get the Regt together to move to Ports- mouth, tho' I do not think that the reason. The Regt has certain roads to picket & with my Co. away, (I could furnish but few men & do duty at the Fort,) the men of the other companies are on duty 24 out of every 48 hours. I am rather glad than otherwise for tho' I shall now be on duty pretty often I shall not be so terribly lonesome & I think the days will pass more pleasantly than while at the Fort. The - box - arrived yesterday P.M. The things are all very nice & just what I wanted I am very sorry to write that three of the jars were badly broken. - Chouchon, Barberry, & pickled grapes & peaches, - & the clothes pretty well soaked so that I shall have them all washed & that I am very sorry for as washing here makes them almost as dirty as wearing them would. I consider it a great treat to get clothes washed at home. Those tin boxes you sent me are very nice indeed. Do make my very prettiest to Mrs. Bond & Mrs. Lu. About the time I went down to Ft. Jericho I had a little attack of diarrhea but I used the - sweet gum bark tea -- that cured me immediately. I shall absorb the whole of the contents of the broken jars - the clothes wrapped round the bottles saved the contents. I am very much obliged for every thing but I should certainly have written for a piece of cake or a pie if I had supposed the box was to appear so promptly. The dried apples are real nice, I like the shirt & all the fault I have to find with it is attributable to me. I should have preferred a small collar that I can button a white collar on. I did not know before that Steve Meech's regt was at Port Hudson & I had forgotton if I knew that he was on Genl Dow's staff. What position does he occupy? I thought seriously of writing to him a few days since but I know we should move if I did. Do send my love to him! Yours of the 10th recd with Independent & Bulletin. I am very glad to have the Indpdt sent. You have spoken so many times of my fine fare that I must add a word. I did live very finely two or three days but I found it was at the cost of just about two dollars per day for self & man, so I dried up & tho' I am not by any means starving I am living at half that or less. I think the latter price enough. How high every thing eatable is - I pay forty three cents a pound for coffee, twelve and a half for sugar &c Bill is doing first rate. Col. Ward has been in - going to Baltimore - & as it's nearly time for inspection I must close. Best love ever Chas.
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