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 #: GLC03603.066 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 January 1862 Pagination: 1 p. Order a Copy
Written on board the ship "H. J. Brookman." Writes about the terrible crowding of the soldiers on the ship. Likens the conditions to those of slave ships.
Jany 8, 1862 After standing until late in the afternoon from about 10 in the morning, on the wharf in the cold, the Regt finally got on board our vessels, part of them not until after dark. on our ship the men are packed like the pic tures of negroes on slave ships, one resting upon another. It is wicked to carry men in such a jam, there is only one deck allowed the men & it is too cold to sleep on deck. I dont know what will be done about it but they cant go so There are six companies about 520 men - must go to breakfast - and they are packed in like pieces of salt pork in a barrel. Please direct here after to 8th Reg Conn vols - Burnsides Coast Division, Fortress Monroe. I dont know whether this is right or not but they will reach me sometime. I think we shall sail to day or tomorrow. Cant write more now. Good bye shall write as often as possible. Your loving son & Bro Love to every body. Chas.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.