Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.073 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 February 1862 Pagination: 4 p. Order a Copy
Written on board the ship "the Sentinal." Complains about the captain and of the Brookman's price gouging and tells of Colonel Harland's response. Writes of a missing soldier who is assumed to have fallen overboard during the night.
On board Sentinal Feby. 1, 1862 Dr. Storrs carried a number of letters over to the Chasseur yesterday afternoon thinking they were going to send to the mail steamer but he was too late & so returned our letters to us, so I will finish that letter this morning & try to send this afternoon as the steamer has not got off yet. All day before yesterday was occupied in transferring troops & stores from Brookman to the union, a tug boat that carried us over the Swash & then were loading the union onto this vessel. I am writing before an open port hole, the only light I can get the rain sprinkles my paper. Yesterday we were busy getting settled in our new quarters & reading in the afternoon. We had a real blow up with capt. Cheney of the Brookman before leaving that ship. He charged us for the three weeks we were there twenty five and 50/100 dollars, that included servant, more than a dollar per day. He charged us for the cabin, privy accomodation, &C. we paid his bill but he had been buying many of the eatables of us, that is we buy of the commissary and sell to him for our own use. This was one of the most provoking things about the business that he should expect to buy of us at Government prices then resell to us as this enormous profit) so when the bill was made out col. Harland told the Quarter master to multiply each item by two & he did so & thus presented it to the Capt. He asked what it meant & the Q M told him he supposed the officers could charge what they had a mind to as there was no price agreed on reminded him that these were Hatteras prices Then the cap pitched into him rough shod I can tell you. The capt has been charging men a dollar a piece for the boat to go to the sutlers which was not a dozen rods from us & several such things The Coln charged him with which he had no right to do as col Harland was the commander of the boat & the capt under him. The result of the blow was that he cut down his prices & we our bill. It saved me five dollars & a half. we are now having a cook from one of the Cos cook for us & have a committee of our own members buy for us, chiefly of the commissary, this will be cheap & we shall be sure we get our monies worth. Dont repeat any of this I beg you & I wish to caution you against saying any thing about Harland's opinions of this expe dition, as I wrote in a former letter. He would not like it at all if he supposed I was writing home these things. We suppose we lost one of the best soldiers in capt. Upham's Co from Meridan, night before last. He was seen getting out of his bunk about three in the morning & is sup - posed to have walked over board. there is a chan ce that he went ashore in a boat that left early in the morning to go ashore & could not get back last night it was rough. we know nothing yet when or where we are going but I think in a few days probably early next week. am glad we shant start tomorrow, Sunday. How I would like to spend that day with you. It's very hard to spend it right here, one can have no time to himself While I write every body is passing & repassing & jugling me so I cant think or write either I am very sorry to learn uncle George is so unwell, give uncle George & aunt Mary my best regards & do remember me to every body all the boys & girls. Mr D smith & Prof. Mrs Laund &c &c. I was writing to Steve Meech when the orders came for us to come aboard here. I shall finish when I can but its hard writing in this place our quarters are so crowded. I wish you could have looked in upon us yesterday afternoon after we received our mail, on our side of our cabin are the 16 bunks which accomodate 18 officers. I have one of the best. on the other side a long side board. This side board was en tirely covered with officers writing & the passage way between births & side board filled with those reading papers. Hardly a word was spoken for a long time all were to busy to talk. I am very well & intend to keep so if possible. I didnt mean to call for any of the $50 you are holding. Half the time is gone & I have not spent half my money. Love Love Chas
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