Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

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

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.039 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Annapolis, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 26 November 1861 Pagination: 4 p. Order a Copy

Mentions the arrival of General J. G. Foster and his eminent inspection of the camp. Expects that he will be invited to have Thanksgiving dinner with the Colonel and the Major as they have shared their plans to dine on a full Thanksgiving dinner that is being mailed to them by the Major's brother.

Tuesday, Nov, 26 8 oclock A.M. Morning report is made out & have finished my breakfast of sausages sweet potatoes bread & coffee so I will write home a few lines before Guard Mounting. Nothing new with me, am very well received yesterday two letters & I ought to have recd one Saturday - with the check of ten dollars enclosed I went to bank & had it cashed, paid the major & shall plenty left to last till pay day which I expect will come this week when I shall send home I hope a pretty nice sum $50. or so & I will then send the second $5 bill which I have not used. Yesterday, Gen J.G.Foster our Brigadier arrived, with suit, in town & summoned all the colonels of the Division before him, when it was ascertained that Harland outranked them all aint that good. I wish Gov. Buckingham would make him a Brig. Genl. very likely he could get command of a Brigade here in this Division under Burnside. perhaps it would give me a lift. I had not thought of Harland as a General until the major spoke to me about it last evening he thinks it very probably that Harland could have a brigade here if the Gov. should make him a Brig. Genl. especially since he is already the senior colonel & I can tell you old Connecticut old Norwich will not be ashamed to own him when the war is over no matter in what capacity he serves but the higher the better. he would never accept a position that he could not fill, we have the best disciplined & best drilled regiment here. it is owing to Harland in a very large dozen I do so wish this could be brought about & thinking it over since the major was here yesterday, it seems quite probable. if the Gov. should appoint him but I may be entirely mistaken. we are to be inspected tomorrow by Genl Foster I shall be pretty busy to day getting my depart ment in order as I have not received my regimental chest yet & all my papers are lying around on my bed & boxes. Genl Foster you will remember is the Fort Sumter hero Capt JG Foster. Harland was very much pleased with him yesterday, says his personalle is very fine, tall & commanding, of course thoroughly understands his business. I am very glad we are to be under him. I was rather taken back by what you wrote about Daly, you say he is quite slow & write as though you feared he would not suit. I thought from what you had previously written that you considered him just the man, but if he is honest & disposed to do well, faithful, I can get along with him I know. though it is sometimes pleasant to have a servant that can if necessary pass from "common time" to "quick time" & even to "double quick" I think he will do. I intend to buy some meal to day & have corn cakes, the Coln & Major are very successful in making them. This letter I suppose will reach you Thanksgiving day & I want you to think of me as enjoying myself that day for I mean to. I think the major will invite the col & mself to dine with him his brother has packed & sent to him by express a complete "Thanksgiving dinner" which he expects tomorrow. The bill of fair sent in a letter recd by him yesterday includes every thing cooked in all manner of ways so you must think of me as enjoying a "big dinner" with the col & Major though I have not been realy invited yet I think I shall be as he showed me the bill of fair &c. I must stop writing & go to work. Remember me to every body, particularly to uncle Geo & Aunt Mary & with very best love for all at home & am Your aff son & brother Chas

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources