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10 September 1862
Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878)
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
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...
GLC03603.146
10 October 1862
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...
GLC03603.151
16 October 1862
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
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...
GLC03603.156
22 October 1862
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...
GLC03603.157
25 October 1862
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
31 October 1862
Describes the journey from Pleasant Valley and the activities of the other officers in the new camp. Writes that he dreads the idea of a winter campaign and also writes about his tent, blanket, and food situation in comparison to that of the enlisted...
GLC03603.159
17 November 1862
Writes that he plans to send most of his supplies home and only carry a small bag. Also writes more about the new chain of command within his Grand Division.
GLC03603.164
20 November 1862
Writes that they are camped very near to their old camp. Also mentions that they are camped just across the river from rebel troops and that some of the troops from both sides spoke across the river the night before. The conversation was based mostly...
GLC03603.165
21 November 1862
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...
GLC03603.166
23 November 1862
Writes that he has heard of a mission that the regiment was unable to carry out because of lack of supplies. Believes that this accounts for the long stay at Fredericksburg. Writes that they have moved their camp to the Lacey Mansion ("rebel mansion"...
GLC03603.167
1 December 1862
Writes that he has been enjoying the luxuries of living in the mansion. Reports that pay for the regiment will be delayed due to a mix-up with muster rolls. The letter is written on the back of a an accounting blank which contains spaces for...
GLC03603.168
2 December 1862
Writes that he has seen Mr. Gardener Green and that he is still comfortably living at the mansion. Written from Lacey Mansion, in Falmouth, Virginia.
GLC03603.169
5 December 1862
Describes his thankfulness at being able to have shelter in the mansion during a snowstorm. Writes that he has filled out a Quarterly Return of Deceased Soldiers. There are reports that a soldier from the 21st Regiment froze to death in the night...
GLC03603.170
8 December 1862
Writes that two companies of the 1st Connecticut Artillery have camped right next to them. Also asks his mother to send gloves or mittens with Lieutenant Shepard when he leaves to re-join the regiment. In a note dated 19 December, he writes that he...
GLC03603.171
19 December 1862
Writes that the Lacey Mansion is being used as a hospital and that the officers are staying in a two-room outhouse. Estimates that the battle has cost the Union side 10,000 and does not see any other result of the four days of battle.
GLC03603.174
23 December 1862
Writes that the officers have moved out of the mansion and are back at their old camp on the hill. The officers have built a chimney and fireplace for their tent. Tells a story about General Burnside's leadership during the battle and of Captain...
GLC03603.175
30 December 1862
Family has received the trunk of extra clothing he has sent home and he responds to a question they asked him about a photograph of a woman that was in the trunk. Says it was merely a photograph he found and kept in hopes of returning it to its owner...
GLC03603.177
1 January 1863
Reflects on the last year saying, "How little we seem to have accomplished during the last twelve months." Expresses his thankfulness for God keeping him safe and healthy. Also says that his regiment has been almost constantly on the "front" for the...
GLC03603.178
Responds to questions from his family about the belongings of Marvin Wait, one of the men who was wounded in battle and to news that it was the anniversary of his father's death. Believes his father to be the guardian angel that watches over him and...
GLC03603.179
11 January 1863
Writes that there is a small campaign among the men to help Colonel Harland become a Brigadier. Various officers are writing about Harland in order to nominate him. Writes that a box from the Soldier's Aid arrived and gives a list of the items he...
GLC03603.182
26 January 1863
Writes after returning from a trip home. Reports seeing Fred Ward's father on the train and hearing him talk about his son who he believes has been taken prisoner. Thinks that Fred Ward is dead but did not tell his father this. Reports that Charlie...
GLC03603.184
30 January 1863
Expresses sadness at the change of generals and says that he hopes Burnside is assigned a new command and that the 9th Regiment can follow them. Writes that the roads are untravelable due to rain and mud. Believes that he was allowed to take leave to...
GLC03603.185.2
31 January 1863
Responds to news that his brother has been considering a job with General Casey's staff by saying that such a chance is not to be dismissed. Qualifies this statement by saying that there is no prestige in being part of the staff of an inactive...
GLC03603.186
10 February 1863
Reports that morale has improved since leaving the muddiness of their former camp. The weather is "delightful" and he hopes that they will remain there for a few weeks. Reports that officers from the Nehant and the Galena, two ships that are anchored...
GLC03603.192
14 March 1863
Coit, George O. (fl. 1863)
to his mother and sister
Writes of witnessing the orders for the Regiment to prepare to leave camp and the subsequent breakdown of the camp. He and Charles were both very regretful at having to part but decided it would be best. George is planning on stopping in Washington...
GLC03603.208
18 March 1863
Writes about sightseeing in Washington and his plans for the rest of his return journey, including stopping in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
GLC03603.209
10 April 1863
Writes that the regiment received news of the election results and were very much pleased. Describes the polling method used among the soldiers for the governor's race. Writes about how much he respects and admires General [Ambrose] Burnside and...
GLC03603.223
17 April 1863
Notes that he is located "3 miles below Suffolk, on the opposite side of the Nansemond River from the Rebs." Writes of a confusion which resulted in Lieutenant Foss being discharged for not reporting on time and that he will miss Sam (Foss) who he...
GLC03603.224
16 May 1863
Writes that he had set up a nice sleeping arrangement for himself at camp and was then ordered to march to Fort Jerico with his company. Mentions that he does not believe that his company will see any fighting as the fort they are guarding is not on...
GLC03603.233
29 May 1863
Writes that he is not very busy and that his "chief employment is battling the flies." Mentions that he plans on visiting Lake Drumond with a group of other officers and that they are to be "poled out by a couple of darkies, the distance is 12 or 15...
GLC03603.237
8 June1863
Writes of his trip to Baltimore to take care of a savings bank matter. Notes that he has seen Cousin Ellen, Becky, John, James and wife and Mrs. Dr. Elisha. Says that he felt unprepared for visiting and feels he made a fool of himself.
GLC03603.239
12 June 1863
Describes his trip to Baltimore, Maryland and how pleasant it was to see pretty shop windows and the faces of women. Writes again of seeing his cousin Ellen and his discomfort with being there and not being offered time or room to clean up. Provides...
GLC03603.240
23 June1863
Writes that they are still waiting to leave for battle. Believes that the higher-ups want to learn the outcome of the battle between [General Joseph] Hooker and [General Rovert E.] Lee before sending reinforcements.
GLC03603.245
10 September 1863
Writes of being "ordered off" to the Army of the Potomac and then being relieved of that duty because another soldier wanted to go to Washington to pick up his pay. Says that Colonel Otis strives to make everything "as pleasant for us as possible."...
GLC03603.252
10 March 1864
Writes jokingly that his family constantly suffers from illnesses while he is "growing fat and hearty." Mentions that General Hunt is to be relieved. Notes that his time is spent straightening out the account books and drilling the new recruits. The...
GLC03603.257
15 March 1864
Writes of the lull in activity for officers in the camp. He is reading a book titled "Hard Cash." Describes a problem with the Ordinance Officer over vouchers.
GLC03603.261
6 April 1864
Writes that most of the normal camp activities have been suspended because of bad weather and that he is working on supply and logistic reports. Says the he also passes the time whittling, reading the "Atlantic," and playing chess. Requests the...
GLC03603.266
12 May 1864
Writes aboard the "The George Washington" that they are landing at City Point. Says that he does not believe that there will be any fighting and is unsure of where they are headed afterwards.
GLC03603.278
18 August 1864
Writes from camp Bermuda that he awaits the return of papers that he accidentally sent home. He will loose pay without them. He writes that a group of soldiers coming to join the picket line were attacked by rebel soldiers and wounded.
GLC03603.313
17 October 1864
He writes that he has inspected the whole Brigade (5 Regiments) and that his hand is tired from writing. He describes the content of the inspection blanks. He writes that he has received a commission as Major, which he considers an insult and plans...
GLC03603.326
2 May 1865
He writes that Quartermaster Merriam has given Coit his tent to make him more comfortable. They are camped 3-4 miles outside Manchester. Though he is in camp, he is considered sick and not on duty. He writes that he is putting off decisions about his...
GLC03603.341
10 December 1866
Garfield, James A. (James Abram) (1831-1881)
to Lionel A. Sheldon
Garfield, then a U.S. congressman from Ohio, discusses reconstruction and the refusal of the southern states to ratify the 14th amendment, which had been drafted to combat opposition to federal policies towards freed slaves. He writes, "It is a great...
GLC03605
16 May 1862
Bingham, George F. (fl. 1861-1862)
to Lucretia Bingham
They are attached to McDowell's Corps and will advance soon to cooperate with McClellan's army. The one year enlistments of two Indiana regiments have expired and the regiments have been sent back to Washington. Direct his letters to "Geo. T...
GLC03607.03
10 March 1863
Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865)
[Commission of Joseph Jones Reynolds as major general of volunteers]
This document approves the appointment of Joseph Jones Reynolds to Major General of Volunteers by Abraham Lincoln and President. Edwin Stanton countersigns as Secretary of War. Decorated by engravings at the top and bottom of the document which were...
GLC03614
30 May 1839
Poinsett, Joel R.
[no.8]
Signed by Secretary of War Joel R. Poinsett. "No. 8" Presidential appointment of Reynolds a "Cadet in the service of the United States . . . ." [Appointment to West Point]
GLC03614.02.01
29 November 1862
Stanton, Edwin M.
[major general Reynolds' commission]
Informing Reynolds of his commission as Major General of Volunteers and orders him to report for duty to Major General Rosecrans.
GLC03614.02.02
25 April 1863
Hardie, James A.
[forwarding Reynold's commission]
Forwarding Reynold's commission as Brigadier General. Addressed to "Maj. Gen'l J.J. Reynolds, U.S. Volunteers, 14th Corps Dept. of the Cumberland, Nashville, Tenn."
GLC03614.02.03
16 November 1864
Townsend, E. D.
Special Orders No. 400. Extract
"Special Orders. No. 400. Extract" Assigning Reynolds "to the command of the Military Division of West Mississippi during the disability of Major General Canby. . . ."
GLC03614.02.04
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