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

Jany 11, 1862 8 o'clock P.M. Sat. eve. Dear all, Here we are at last anchored off Fortress Monroe with Sewell 's Point about 5 miles off our bow. Looking off to the left of the Fortress the sight reminds me of the view of Norwich coming up the river, the lights on the vessels are so numerous, like the lights on the hill at Norwich. We are outside most of the fleet & we are so late in that we only see it by moonlight. I mean to be up early tomorrow I long to look out by daylight on these places I have read of so often. I cannot realize that I am truly here. while I write major Appelman is talking Chinese with our china man cook. I cant help listening I should think I was at a missionary meeting. I never knew a week pass as quickly as this last. Monday we broke camp, marched down to the dock & after standing there in the snow & cold an hour or two found our vessels were not ready and some were marched down to the Navy school buildings where the Regt was quartered for the night. Col, Lt. Col, & myself passed the night on the ship. Tuesday we marched back to the dock about 10 A.M. found nothing ready, t'was very cold - Col waited long time before the barge appeared that was to carry us (6 companies & baggage) to the ship, loaded in the troops & baggage & then had to wait again for tug to tow us out, when at last the tug came the tide had gone out and being very heavily loaded we were found to be aground & all the tug could effect was to pull one end round so we could not get ashore again then the tug was short for coal & left us to get more - fortunately I was not on the barge & was not obliged to stand, almost frozen, with hardly room to turn round. I was on the tug at first & when she left I was put ashore & could stand by the camp fire - after another long delay, Genl Parke came round on another steamer for the other four companies & their baggage and while that was loading Genl Foster & staff came in another tug to get us (the six companies) off. We arrived at the ship just at dusk and the major Quartermaster & I were hard at work assigning the places & crowding the Co's into their places until dark. The room in the ship for the soldiers was all occupied by then standing as they came aboard with knapsack & all equipments on, they could not lie down after stripping them off. one soldier said the next day that he had a first rate bed as he slept on soldiers three deep. They were so crowded that many in dispair tried sleeping in the cold and wet. The officers were terribly mad at the quarters assigned to them & I did not blame them. In the Chasseur where the Lt. col. & four cos are everything is very comfortable arranged each man having his own bunk & plenty of room. Wednesday began unloading the stores from the barge the first thing this was a long job as every thing must be hoisted on board. Col. H. went back to the city with the tug & barge & finally procured a schooner to take part of the troops from the ship. So the baggage & provisions for two companies must be hoisted from the hold to the sschooner and so the day passed. I wrote you two letters that day (the 8th inst.) the second one was the last letter that left this ship I know. I wrote it in evening & sent it ashore by the Capt. of a tug boat that brought straw & wood to the schooner about 10 o'clock that evening. I wonder if you received it. I thought it doubtful when I gave it to him for he seemed to be tight then. Thursday morning Genl Burnside came round to each ship, in a six sand boat, to see that all were ready. Each ship cheered him as he approached & he would take off his hat, it was really a very interesting sight to us just about sailing we knew not when & he our commander. The fleet got under way during the morning, the first brigade leading & so on. this ship started about 11 AM The atmosphere was quite misty, but yet it was a fine sight to see the vessels sailing off crowded with men & the bands playing. The steamers towing the sail vessels. the chasseur towed the Brookman (our ship) & one schooner, Had quite a little excitement about 8 PM, our steamer not having a regular pilot aboard, had towed us into shoal water & had also lead a steamer towing two ships behind us into the same & one of those ships had run aground & the other into her & damaged her considerably in her rigging we judged from the sound. The ship aground had the 53d N.Yk Reg (the zouaves) the other the 11th ct. A fog now coming up we were all obliged to anchor, after we had been towed into deep water again. what I have written about the ships of the 53d N.Yk & 11th Connt may be wrong in some things as it took place some distance off & we have had no comm unication with them. Friday was too foggy all day for us to start again, both steamers went to the ship aground but could not start her. Spent the day loafing, reading old Harpers, Shirley, &c and did enjoy it much. Had a visit from several of the officers from the Chasseur. saturday both steamers again tried to pull the 53d N.Yk ship off but could not. Fog cleared up & we all but the 53d started again, we includes the 8th steamer, ship & Schooner & 11th steamer & ship. Steamer towed us at first but the wind increasing we let go & hoisted sail & came on by our selfs. I have enjoyed my first sail in a ship greatly, but few have been sea sick. I have not yet but we have had little motion as yet. I have been on deck a large part of the day, the rest read Bleak House. The Asst Adjt Genl of this, the 3d brigade has just been here & orders us to put to sea as soon as possible so we are really going outside and there is no telling when I shall hear from you again or when I can send one to you aagain, but I hope to write & hear very soon. Know nothing further where we are going, but it cant be the York or James River. I think we shall have less fighting in going south. we are fortunate in being on the ship instead of those rolling steamers. I dont feel like writing more now I was intending to write more about our sail how much I had enjoyed it &c but all that dont come in well now I shall break off until morning & after adding something send this ashore by the Pilot when he leaves us off the capes. Good night dear ones all Chas Sunday noon. Have been on deck all the morning & it is splendid. Fortress Monroe on our right, Hampton over beyond Newport News a little to the left, farther left Pig Point, then Sewell's Point, & on the extreme left the Rip Raps. These points are all in a semi circle with the Fortress on one side and Rip Raps the other, the places in between are quite distant. we have just got under way & are sailing out to sea with a fair breeze and clear sky. the water is delightful, very few have their overcoats on. It has been a fine sight watching the vessels sail past. we are away the last. Dinner bell & the steward says "Come quick & get your dinner before the sea sickness comes" we are all expecting it this afternoon. went to dinner now the Pilot is going & I must stop. Fairwell will write again as soon as I can. The papers will probably tell you where to direct.