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

Joshua Johnson's House Roanoke Island Feby. 28, '62 Very dear all, After a ten day residence with fisherman Johnson I this morning reported myself to col. H. as ready for duty. but I thought it best that I should keep my bed here a few nights longer so I am here this evening. It has seemed to me almost like charming to sit in my attic here feeling as comfortable as I have for really most of the time my chief complaint was a furred tongue & not the least appetite but that's all over now for I have an undefiled tongue & an appetite that is fast making up for lost opportunities. Since mailing my last letter to you I have recd five of yours & you cant imagine how precious they are way off here. They were recd at two different mails they are dated Jany 20, Feby 1, 5, 10 & 14th. They all speak of Geo's sickness & I have been much troubled & alarmed that he does not get entirely over his pustules. I talked with Dr. L. about these pustules several times he says he does not fully understand them but he evidently does not like them. I am very anxious to hear again. I feel rather in debt to you about letters lately for I have not mailed one for about two weeks but I think there has been no outward mail but that has carried at least one of my letters & my conveniences have not been great of late. At this house I can write very comfortably but with the exception of the sheet enclosed I have written nothing since I have been here though I have tried several times. After receiving your last two letters, which spoke so particularly of uncle Geo s complete disability, I sat at the table one blessed afternoon & tried faithfully to write both to him & Aunt Mary but my fever would not go I could not write though I seemed to be talking to them all the time. I am most sorry to learn uncle G is so poorly I hope you say that the coming spring will restore him. I can hardly think that the winter is past & that spring is really here. we have had three frosts this week the first we have experienced since leaving Fort Monroe in Jany. yet warm as this must seem to you I have suffered much more from cold than ever before. I suppose in a few weeks we shall all complain of the heat, but we are all hoping to get our dear old hours by hot weather, every thing looks so bright now, that a glorious victory at Fort Donalson. I wish you would send me regularly a weekly N.York paper we now only get an item once in a while & we are crazy for news. we have no particulars of the Fort D. fight as yet. - George Moore goes home, by the steamer that leaves tomorrow or next day & intends to bring back a vessel load of ice &c says you can send anything you like but I realy dont think it will pay. if I was living by myself I should feel differently but we cant afford to furnish the Lt. Col. & it would amount to just that now. In camp, march 1, 1862 Geo. Moore says this morning that he shall not go North until after we are paid. I am feeling entirely strong & well this morning & ready for any amount of work, but I am avoiding writing as much as possible for I have in some way strained or taken cold in my left eye & as it is a little bloodshot I shall try not to use it much. I have detailed a member of our Meridan Co. as my orderly & I am keeping him at work & loafing myself. He is a first rate fellow, a professor of religin & a nice hand every ways. There have been several changes among the offs of the Regt. lately caused by filling the places of those who resigned just as we left Annaplois. The Rev. Jacob Eaton of whom I have written often, is promoted from private of the Meridan Co (K) to 1st Lieut. of Co. B. (from Thompsonville) I think uncle Geo. knows Mr. Eaton. Chas shepard of our Norwich co is now 2d Lt. co. B. & thus several other changes that would have no interest to you. Lt. Shepard I suppose will be detailed soon as Genl Burnside's staff, which position I think he has gained entirely by his knowledge of figures. He was detailed first as a clerk to division surgeon because he was a good penman & being at Head Quarters Genl B. ascertained that he understood accounts so set him at work on some old Railroad account of his that had never been settled though several had tried to settle them. Shepard was successful. so im - portant are these little things seemingly. we learned yesterday PM that there is a mail for us aboard a vessel in the sound I wish I could get it before sending this. while I think of it I want to speak of the letters to which you refer as having recd from members of Co. D. Capt wards. they must have been a pack of lies, I dont maen to say it was intended but you must remember that these are new times to all of us & I find in my own case that it is almost impossible to keep from e agerations. The statement about short rations is false. Co. D. were having credit for rations that they did not draw could not have rations if they had. some of the water was not pleasant but if they have no worse they may be thankful. I dont imagine our stores have been any much worse than is to be e pected at Hatteras in the winter time always. ou know there is a continual storm there. I want so much to get your mail hear from George though I cant but think him better. There is no news here. I am longing for the New ork papers to see their account of our fight. There are some indications of a forward movement but nothing immediate. Dont know whether we shall go or remain here. if we go I think we shall return to this island as our permanaent camp. If I could only know that you are all well Love Chas.