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

Annapolis, Md. Sunday Evening, 10 Nov Dear All, Dress Parade & Supper are over & I am sure I cannot pass the evening in any way at once so pleasant & profitable as in writing home. That word, home, has a deeper meaning every day. How good it would be if I could only look in upon you once in a while, this writing is dreadfully slow way of talking, but I dont know what I should do without your letters each day. Your letter that I rec'd yesterday was dated the 6th mailed 7th & you had not rec'd my first from this place. four or five days is a long time to wait for answers even to a question or two. As I write I hear the men singing "do they miss me at home" &c. Before I forget it let me speak of one thing mentioned in Ellen's last, says D Terry informed her that I did not like col. Cunningham & that Harland said the Lt. Col. should resign or he would. I am very much troubled about it. Did it originate from what I I wrote you from Jamaica. it is I think much like what I wrote but I requested so specifically that it should be kept private that I cannot believe you repeated it to any one. Did you tell uncle Geo. I hope not. you know he is not as close mouthed as some of us are. This is of much importance to me & I wish you would answer fully & tell me all you know about it. I ought not to have written it in the first place but I supposed I could write home my real thoughts without harm. Do write particularly how it got out. I do like the Lt. Col. he is very pleasant & kind as much so as any man I ever saw, but you know I never especially affected palover & soft soap. what reply did Ellen make to D Terry (may his shadow rapidly grow less, he is never happy unless making mischief) Sorry to write as much about this. As I write this I am reclining on my bed with a candle stuck on my trunk by my side. The bed & trunk reach entirely across the back of the tent, then in one front corner is my fire, which takes up more room than I like to spare & Stanton's bed (evergreens with tent cloth over them) fills a large part of the side from my bed to the door, as I have no rooms to let. The Lt. Col. has just left the tent, he made quite a social call. we all visit back & forth & forth & back continually. I visit the least as I am more occupied than others. But I want to tell you about my stove. it is underground, the stove part was first a large stone ware jar with no bottom & a large part of one side broken off. this was set in the ground with a pipe (which Stanton bought in the city for 50 cents) leading from it to the outside & up out of the ground, the higher the more draft, thus the broken side, the top was covered with some old sheet iron & dirt over all making it level with the bottom of the tent an opening of course left down into the front to put in wood & for draft, you would be surprised at the amount of heat it gives aside from drying the ground which is one of the great advantages. The heat soon broke the jar to pieces, as I told Stanton it would but it has done well to day & to morrow we intend to make a larger one with brick sides if we can find the bricks I would give considerable to have the old Jarvis kiln moved down here, or rather some of the large flat stones that I could find there. I could have one of the stones you read about. Have not see a stove in town. can run my sword into the ground any where without the least danger of injuring it. As I write I hear the Guards call out "Halt - who goes there" &c. My high boots came yesterday noon & I tried them pretty well in the afternnoon rains dont believe they can be wet through & they came up over the knee so that with my pants inside & rubber coat on I am perfectly protected from rain & mud. If they were one half size larger as I ordered through John H Almy, they would be splendind but they now hurt me considerably. I expect they will stretch though. they are large enough but my foot is high in the instep & pretty thick through you know. Capt. ward & three of our best Lieuts with 100 men, 10 from each company, have been detailed from the Regiment as a Provost Guard for the city. Capt. ward was selected as commander he is so well posted that he did not need the instruction at drills & because he is in every way so entirely reliable. The privates are all picked men & we miss officers & men but particularly the Capt. The whole Guard is taken from this Regiment. I hardly know why, perhaps because we are better drilled than others, it is quite a compliment as this duty is to look after all the officers & privates of this Division found in this city & most all who have not passes or who are disorderly. I dont think I can write to morrow as I have laid out a great deal of work for the day. I leave a blank & perhaps I can add a line before this goes. I intended to ask about garden, Aggliston? the buildings during the storm &c. should think you little have Holmes. Glad Geo. is trying for prizes hope he will be successful. Saw the Beckwith boy who is in the 10th the day we arrived he looked happy & well Dont remember seeing his brother lately but he cant be sick as his co. reports all well.