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

Sunday evening Nov 24 This has not been a sabbath to my taste at all. when Cowles told me last summer how he used to spend the sabbath in camp I thought if I had been there I should have done better but mine are not much preferable though I hope not quite as bad. This morning got up before six AM & finished my morning report before breakfast after breakfast Guard mounting, then look over a file of reports to ascertain the date of appointment of our wagon master & report it with his name at Headquarters in the city, I found every body at work there as usual, called at colonel's tent when I returned & became interested in conversation there so that it was time to cook my dinner when I got back to my tent again. Right after dinner saddled the Governor again and started for church at the city with major & Quartermaster but found on reaching the church that service did not commence until three & their time being nearly half an hour slower than ours (across top margin pages two and three) would like a watch pocket on outside of my new coat right where my sword belt goes on if Mrs Thompson can put one in well & if you decide the express on the coat will not be more than I can afford. we should be unable to attend & reach the camp, over the muddy roads, in time for Dress Parade of course I must be there, so the major & Q.M. rode off in one direction & I went after the colonel who had gone before us to the Assembly Rooms where capt ward is now quartered with our hundred who act as Provost Guard in the city. we staid with the capt & other officers some time they telling us of the various conditions of the Guard with the soldiers & how they enter drinking saloons pour out the brandy whiskey &c, they are doing grand service in keeping the city quiet & are continually arresting drunken & disorderly soldiers of whom there are very many of course out of 10,000 encamped within two miles & 2000 of them from New York City. They had quite a time with a squad of cavalry a few days since, the cavalry drew swords pistols it was necessary to bleed their leader with a bayonet before they would surrender. There were six of the Cavalry ten of our men, they were going to charge on & ride over our ten, but our men made the charge & took them prisoner after pricking their leader a little. They had a large room full of prisoners this afternoon and are continually bringing more in & sending others back to their camps. squads of the Guard are at all times parading the streets arresting all soldiers who are drunk or disorderly in fact they have powers to arrest all officers, except Colonels & staff officers, and privates who are found in the city without passes. capt ward has his hands full, this may account for his not acknowledging the receipt of the box sent from Norwich. I spoke to the Coln about it & he said he had told ward he ought to soon & ward said he had begun several times but had not been able to finish. I intend to mention it when I can. while sitting with the Capt, the Coln received a Telegram from Washington - something about the muster rolls & time of payment - which he was obliged to answer immediately and as he did not know the way I went with him to the Telegraph office, the opposite side of the city. when we reached camp again it was time for Dress Parade & then supper & now this evening I am writing home, so this is the way I have spent the day. we had a service at camp in the afternoon but I preferred going to church in the city for I suppose I shall not enjoy the privilege long & I do not particularly affect on camp services as we have to stand all the time on the open parade ground. I hardly see how it is possible that I shall be as busy the coming week as I have been this few past but I supose something extra will turn up every day I hope not for I want to study the tactics a little & drill I have not studyed any since we arrived and drilled but once. I have several letters to write that will take some time with letters home each day which I hope to continue I think I write more regularly than you do. I did not get last Thursday or Saturday & of course none to day. I had only one Friday. I mean to answer Steve Meech's letter immediately. he was real kind to qrite again, then I must write to A.A. Perkins I cant quite settle who she is 110 St. Paul St. Baltimore. I am waiting anxiously to hear from Daly I fear he may have found trouble coming on. I hope he may not have started until my pass reached him. Thanksgiving so near at hand makes every body home sick but theres no use wishing as it cant be, so I shall get up as big a dinner as I can & try to imagine my self at our old table at home. I have filled my sheet so entirely in writing about myself that I have no room for anything except my very best is love. Chas. (top margin first page) You have never mentioned sam Marvin what is he doing remember me to him please, & to every body else. It is snow ing quite hard but not cold at all, wonder where I shall see snow again, not this winter I imagine. think we shall be paid off this week I have recd your $10 much obliged.