Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.122 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 9 July 1862 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Mentions waiting to join McClellan's troops and discusses the massive amount of weaponry housed at Fort Monroe. Provides news of the other men from Norwich. Written "On ship at Ft. Monroe."
On Ship at Ft. Monroe July 9. 1862. Still here & when we shall move is all unknown to the plebs. McClellan cant be in much hurry for reinforcements. Some indications there are of our remaining on board some time. I dont know what to think & begin to think our destination may have been changed from James River to some other point. Went ashore for the first time last evening with a party of officers & enjoyed a splendid bathe just under the walls of the old fort. saw the famous union & Lincoln guns. Did not get inside the fort t'was too late. You should see the - immense - quantity of shot, shell, & cannon of all sizes & descriptions on show. why I believe if the whole union Army lost all their guns they could be supplyed from here immediately. Perhaps thats rather stretched but I must have seen in piles hundreds of the finest - Parrott - guns alone. I shall try to go inside the fort to day & if we go up the James River I shall see the monitor & all those other iron gun boats that have excited my curiosity so long. Nothing new here & we get none from above I hear reporters are not all received within the lines hereafter. All the Norwich boys are well. Charlie Breed is with us, attached to col. Harland's staff at present as Signal off. Marvin wait has been rather unwell for a few days, no much however, has been round among us enjoying himself each day. Two of our Co's were yesterday transferred to the New York. Marvin's Co. is one. If we go up James River I may see Bela, I shall certainly try, I should like to meet him greatly. Boat is going Love Chas
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