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15 March 1863
Coit, George O., fl. 1863
to his mother and sister
Writes about having to send George away and of the impression he made on the other officers. He is still unsure of why the regiment was moved.
GLC03603.210
18 March 1863
Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878
to his family
Writes that he was regretful for sending George away so suddenly. He did so because of a rumor that the regiment might be involved in a battle. Some officers have their wives with them. Says that he has heard from Cousin Lemuel that George is very...
GLC03603.211
22 March 1863
Thanks his mother for sending the newspapers and clippings. Writes of experiencing a very bad snow storm and the poor conditions of the enlisted mens' shelters. Whiskey was served to the entire regiment for warmth. Believes that his regiment is...
GLC03603.212
Charles Morgan Coit to George O. Coit
Writes that he wishes George could have come with him but that it was a very long, cold journey from Newport News to Suffolk. Asks that George write him from Baltimore, Maryland. Written at Camp Suffolk.
GLC03603.213
25 March 1863
Writes that General Harland has told him that there is a chance that he will be made Major of the Regiment. Requests that his family keep this a secret as he is sure that it is only a slight possibility. Says that he is relieved that General [Ambrose...
GLC03603.214
27 March 1863
to his family/Orderly Gammwell
Writes that he wishes that the receiver's furlong would be long enough to cast a vote for "the suppression of Rebellion". Makes reference to the Hartford Convention of 1863. A draft of a note written to Orderly Gammwell but sent to his family with...
GLC03603.215
29 March 1863
Writes he and his company wish they could go back to Connecticut to vote on the Conscription Act, which calls for a draft and excuses men who can furnish a viable replacement or pay the government $300. Says he has heard that an officer cannot walk...
GLC03603.216
Responds to questions from his family about fixtures in their rental properties. Expresses interest in the results of the election and requests that a chess set be sent to him via one of the Norwich men who are home on furlough. Writes that he has...
GLC03603.217
30 March 1863
Writes that the enemy is surrounding Suffolk and "The cannon[s] are cannons are booming away at short intervals," though they have not been attacked yet. Notes that one of the pickets from his Regiment was attacked a few days ago. His brigade has...
GLC03603.218
2 April 1863
Writes that he is in command of a picket of 50 men. He does not believe there is any reason to be afraid of attack as they have been withdrawing their forces during the day.
GLC03603.219
31 March 1863
Writes that he does not believe that there is any further danger of attack. He says "tho' the gunboats keep firing away I doubt whether they see anything to fire at."
GLC03603.220
3 April 1863
Writes that he has been very busy making up his equipment and Ordinance reports. He can hear the 103rd New York Regiment band serenading Colonel Beach's lady. Mentions the money that he sent via Captain Moore again and the photographs of Colonel Ward...
GLC03603.221
5 April 1863
Writes about the dismissal of Lieutenant Samuel Foss and responds to a letter sent by his family mentioning George Coit living away from home to attend school.
GLC03603.222
22 April 1863
Writes about going on a recognizance mission to check out some houses beyond the picket line. The mission was commanded by Captain Stevens, who Coit believed had scoped out the area and deemed the mission safe. Reports being fired at by no fewer than...
GLC03603.225
23 April 1863
Writes that the regiment has established a camp near the portion of the river that they are trying to defend. Comments about Colonel Ward having command over a few regiments as a "compliment for his gallant behavior" when he took control of all the...
GLC03603.226
26 April 1863
Writes that they marched to Fort Dix. Describes General Corcoran and 6-8,000 troops going on a recognizance mission and retreating when they saw a rebel battery with a few hundred troops manning it. Criticizes other recent military moves and...
GLC03603.227
2 May 1863
Writes that his regiment has been building corduroy roads and gabions. Notes that some people are making "queer remarks" about General Peck. One man said that he hoped that General Peck was killed and went to hell before the soldier did. That way...
GLC03603.228
3 May 1863
Writes that there is a "heavy force across the river and the firing has been incessant." Notes that his Regiment is split in two with one half out on a mission and Coit's half camped in the woods. He passes on descriptions of fighting near the river...
GLC03603.229
10 May 1863
Writes that they are all excited by the news about [Joseph] Hooker. Coit believes that the end of the war will involve the Army of the Potomac. Notes that he shared his brother's plan to go to the Scientific School in New Haven with Colonel Harland...
GLC03603.230
24 May 1863
Says that he has hired a new servant named Bill. The Chaplin gave the soldiers a supply of new books and newspapers. Requests that his mother take the money he has sent and buy some letter paper to write him rather than the "old scraps" she has been...
GLC03603.231
5 May 1863
Sends a declaration of defeat from Major General Peck to his family with only one addition: "Bah!!"
GLC03603.232
21 May 1863
Writes that part of the regiment has been commanded to prepare three days rations and march as soon as possible. Coit and his company are to stay on duty at Fort Jerico. Says that there is nothing for him or the company to do at the fort and that he...
GLC03603.234
23 May 1863
Writes that they have returned to the same site that they had camped at a month ago but that a new camp has been erected on its site. Mentions that he plans on extending his tent by building an 'evergreen bower' and hanging his hammock. Requests that...
GLC03603.235
26 May 1863
[General Order #75]
Comments on [General Ambrose] Burnside's General Order thanking the 9th Regiment for their "behavior in their brilliant action before Suffolk, V.A." Writes that he and the others are happy to have been remembered by General Burnside and refers to him...
GLC03603.236
2 June 1863
Writes about the trip into the swamp that he took with the other officers last weekend. Also writes of a soldier who causes him trouble. He requests black pepper, black tea and other food and mess items to be sent to him. Responds to the request for...
GLC03603.238
14 June 1863
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...
GLC03603.241
17 June 1863
Writes of commanding a picket line. Also, he writes of receiving word of the Rebel raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Says that he does not believe the rebellion will last much longer. Writes that he presumes that the camp they are in will soon be...
GLC03603.242
21 June 1863
Notes that they have marched and are camping near Portsmouth, Virginia. Believes that they are to wait there while Keyes' force attempts to create a diversion or capture Richmond, Virginia. Writes of the regret that the regiment feels "that our state...
GLC03603.243
22 June 1863
Writes of marching and arriving at Yorktown. Mentions that this was the site that General "McC's" troops were camped a year ago and describes an incident in which a black Rebel sharpshooter hid out in a tree and picked off the Union men until he...
GLC03603.244
7 July 1863
Reports an unsuccessful raid on Fredericksburg and Richmond, Virginia. The marching is very difficult due to the extreme heat and that several have died or been maimed by sunstroke. Though none of the men were wounded while they attempted to take the...
GLC03603.246
8 July 1863
Writes from the "White House" that they are about to march to Fort Monroe 75-80 miles away and that his family should expect no letter for a few days.
GLC03603.247
11 July 1863
Writes that they have received word of Vicksburg, Mississippi and [General Ulysses] Grant's victories. The marching is very hard on the men and he writes that half of them, himself included, are marching barefoot because of wet boots and swollen feet...
GLC03603.248
4 August 1863
Notes that he has returned from a visit to his family and is camped with new conscripts and is unsure whether he will be in charge of them or not. Says that he has purchased a leather trunk and a duster. Writes that Colonel Otis is in charge of the...
GLC03603.249
7 September 1863
Writes after his family has visited him. Says that he is feeling better. "The day and night that I was on duty we had more Conscripts in the building than at any previous time and I am most happy to say that not one escaped during 24 hours." The...
GLC03603.250
26 September 1863
Writes that they are leaving for New Haven that evening. Requests that his family not come immediately to visit. They had a very unpleasant march to New York.
GLC03603.251
13 October 1863
Says that he is finding it hard to write because he feels very close to home. The officers of his camp were complimented on their abilities and commitment to duty. Responds to news from home that his family is thinking of renting out their house in...
GLC03603.253
28 February 1864
Describes his camp quarters. Notes that a good deal of his time has been spent making muster rolls detailing what each man lost while in Connecticut. Writes that the losses are due to the individual soldiers' carelessness and Lieutenant Morgan who...
GLC03603.254
1 March 1864
Writes of missing being able to stop in on his family in the evenings and how he will write letters again now that he is away. Notes that he is now with the 8th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.
GLC03603.255
4 March 1864
Writes how busy he is with muster rolls and straightening out the clothing and ordinance accounts. Notes that he is relieved that he is not responsible for these accounts. The letter is written on a piece of paper that he has used to add account sums...
GLC03603.256
12 March 1864
Reports that they have orders to move to Deep Creek the next day and set up a new camp. They have not been called out to fight because so many of the recruits are unarmed. Writes more about how he finds Goddard "awkward." Arranges for his family to...
GLC03603.258
22 March 1864
Discusses the men from his regiment who have deserted and how they were punished. Describes being ill and of other officers sending for their ladies. "… wonder if mine would come if I sent for her…"
GLC03603.259
27 March 1864
Responds to news from his family about their new living situation. Writes about the Chaplain's insistence that the officers set good examples. Mentions his pledge not to indulge in alcoholic beverages and of his new pledge to give up tobacco...
GLC03603.260
1 April 1864
Writes that he has been in Norfolk and Portsmouth on business for the regiment. Notes that Sam Foss was ill with cholic and that Alfred Goddard knew how to treat it.
GLC03603.262
3 April 1864
Writes that there is more religious interest in the camp lately and describes Regiment Captain Ford standing at a prayer meeting to say that he was giving up alcohol and cursing in favor of living a Christian lifestyle. Notes that his birthday passed...
GLC03603.263
to George Coit
Congratulates his brother on having won first prize. Advises his brother on the path to better health and says that he would like to see a copy of a speech his brother is to give.
GLC03603.264
April 5, 1864
Requests a chess handbook and describes a company box that he has acquired to hold his books and other belongings. Writes that he is in command of the Regiment because Captain Hoyt is in Portsmouth attending a court martial.
GLC03603.265
12 April 1864
to his sister
Describes a quiet camp and reading a novel called "Pique" until his candle went out at 4 a.m. Thanks her for sending a book called "Lady of the Lake." Describes singing hymns with the other officers and requests that he be sent his chess set from...
GLC03603.267
17 April 1864
Notes they marched to Getty's Station to attend the execution of a deserter but were told that it was to be postponed. Says that they received orders to march to Bowers Hill and then were transported to Suffolk by "cars." They came back to camp via...
GLC03603.268
18 April 1864
Requests more shirts and says that his friend would like for Coit's mother to share the pattern with his mother so that he can also have one. Aso asks for more socks and says that there is a rumor that they will be marching to Newport News very soon...
GLC03603.269
15 April 1864
Writes a short note about marching from camp to Suffolk, Virginia and then back again. Requests woolen stockings.
GLC03603.270
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