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

Camp Suffolk Va Sunday evng
Dearest All,
Yours of the 14th was received yesterday afternoon & to day recd Independent & Bulletin. I have a good laugh over each - package - of Bulletins that I get. Mother has a decidedly amusing way of sending a half of two different papers with a few scraps thrown in, to make one whole one. I remember mother always insisted that it was not cheating if the bulk was not increased. We have the last week experienced - bullyest - old New England snow storm that we have seen since leaving old Connt. I have not enjoyed any thing more for a long time. I think it really did me good - Wednesday was raining & during the night changed to snow, continued Thursday night Friday & Friday night & ended in a drizzle Saturday. Had the snow fallen in cold weather on frozen ground it would have been very deep, as it was there was six or eight inches of spoils. Saturday morning I set my man Jim at work trenching round the tent & on taking hold of the shovel to show him how to do it I became so fascinated with the work that I dug on until called to dinner, then a few hours afterwards. I was pretty well soaked but had real fun. I imagined myself about - so high & was digging in the gutter at home or on the roof of the old store, wasn't quite certain which. The - men - in their shelter tents did not enjoy the storm as much as I did. It was very hard on them. They have no fires in their tents & could only keep warm by lying in their beds the whole time & some of the tents were over flowed at that, those on Guard partic- ularly suffered. Whiskey was served to the Guard several times & once over to the whole Regt. The snow has all disappeared now & our camp ground is quite settled again. I do not think there will be any advance made from this place. Although there is a strong body of troops here I do not believe we are strong enough to advance towards Petersburg, so distant as it is from us & so near Richmond. We might advance perhaps towards weldon N.C. but I dons at all expect that. This is a quite important place, has been strongly fortified & I think we are here simply to hold what has been gained. Neither do I believe we shall be attacked as the Rebels would surely be defeated. Therefor I do hope you will make yourselves entirely easy about me. How I do wish George could have seen us here to tell you how comfortable we are &c. We hear that the two Divisions of the Corps that we left at Newport News have set sail & have gone up the bay towards Baltimore & also that they are bound west. All this is rumor & we believe none of it yet. We fear that we are permanently detached from the corps but if the other two Divisions are going west I say let them go. I'd full as live stay here, though I do want to be with Burnside wherever he goes. The inhabitants say troops are remarkably healthy here Summer & Winter. Am very glad you saw Col. Appelman. Am sorry to hear he is yet so feeble. It must be very hard for him to unable to walk for nine months. How long he is recovering. One of my corporals who was wounded in the shoulder returned to day, he seems almost entirely recovered & as ready to fight as ever says he hopes I will keep him with the company hereafter, he has been the Color Corpl from my company & was with the Color Guard when wounded. You remember that nine out of the ten who composed the color Guard were either killed or wounded at Antietam. I told him that that was the post of honor but he thought he got all the honor he wanted at Antietam. only three of my company who were wounded that day have yet returned. Three have died from their wounds quite a number have been discharged as unfit for further service & the remainder are still at Hospitals. Col. S. H. Almy was in camp a few moments Friday P.M. I saw him at Col. Ward's tent. Says when he returns to Norwich he will call & tell you how well I am looking. I want at least a dozen more of my photographs to exchange here & would like them soon. I think the postage on the whole need be but a cent. Its been a very quiet day. I have not been out of Camp. Chaplain is absent & we have had no service. I always keep the independants for Sunday. Do thank Mrs. Hubbard for her little "Hymns for a week". I prize it very highly. Your little Testament & Psalms is just what I wanted. I always think more of you all Sundays than any other day & want particularly to be with you then. I dont like Sundays in the Army any way. Its getting late & I must make up my bed & retire if I would be present at roll call in the morning, can perhaps add a line then. Good night. We are all thinking & talking constantly about the election. I presume ere this our resolutions have been published. Every officer in this Regt. present at the time signed them. I hear that a few in the other Regts declined. The Lt. Col. & Major of the 15th
& a few others perhaps say they dont wish any thing to do with politics, they came out here to fight. I notice by papers you sent to day that Clarence Dutton has been made captain in 21st. Since the battle of Fredericksburg he has generally been considered a - Coward -. I dont know any thing about it except as I have on several occasions heard it quite strongly expressed. I would hate to be in his company any how. I guess he'll show them the way cannon are spiked. Good night again. Monday morning - After roll call this morning after building my fire & sitting by it a while I became so sleepy that I laid down on the bed with my clothes on & had a good sound nap for an hour or two and as its after 8 o'clock I must close this letter, that it may go this morning's mail. I am very well. Love & regards to every body but most & best to mother sister, & brother Your affct son & bro Chas