Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.233 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Suffolk, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 May 1863 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes that he had set up a nice sleeping arrangement for himself at camp and was then ordered to march to Fort Jerico with his company. Mentions that he does not believe that his company will see any fighting as the fort they are guarding is not on the front line. Closes with the news that Dick Ripley has been made Assistant Surgeon.
Ft. Jerico Suffolk, Va. May 16
Dear All: I was real comfortably fixed in Camp. the boys had made me a splendid great bower & I had my hammock swing under it & I thought I was about right. but after enjoying it one day, the Adj't came to me & gave me orders to march the next mmorning with my co. to Fort Jerico to act as support. - I tried to make a sketch of my bower, tent, &c, to send you but had to give it up. couldnt come it. - well I waked about 4 AM that day, yesterday, was spent in pitching our tents again & fixing up. I have had another bower built & my hammock swings under it. The Co. have built an evergreen bower extending along the front of the tents the whole length of the Co. street. My present post is less than half a mile from the Regt Camp & if I had one or two officers for company I should be all right. I am of course all alone & rather lonesome but I am so near the camp that I receive frequent visits from the officers & I walk up to camp once or twice a day. The co. is fortunate in getting this post as it relieves them from all picket & fatigue duty. I have a guard of a non-Comss. officer & six men on duty each day & the remainder of the Co. do nothing. This Fort is not on the outside line of defenses but rather forms a part of a second line. I do not believe a gun was ever fired from it that was pointed at an enemy. T'is an emminently safe position. Have recd yours of the 11th. Regret to hear that good Mrs.Hubbard is so low. what a loss she will be. I think Henry Goddard's wound must be slight for I heard yesterday that as he passed thro' Baltimore he was "bumming" pretty heavily with the 18th boys. Don't ever believe any report that credits the taking of Richmond to Genl Peck. Sam Floss is back fully reinstated. We laughed at him considerably. He returned one afternoon & was sent off on picket the next morning. He came down to my tent this morning about 5 AM & destroyed my morning nap. Dr. Storrs is back & acting as Brigade Surgeon. He has been on duty at Washington Hospt since about the date of the first battle of Fredericksburg. He has had his family with him there. I am glad he is with us again for he is truly able & I like him. I gave my man Jim a pass to go to Norfolk & stay one day at his home & he has not returned yet has been gone nearly a week. I hope I have not lost him for he is a real good boy. - Clean & willing, & Honest. - I must close & carry this to camp to post Love Chas Has Dick Ripley been made Asst Surgeon.
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