Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.081 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Roanoke Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 March1862 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Responds to a letter received from home inquiring about his housing situation and the layout of the island. Also discredits accounts of the battle that his family has picked up, such as the rumor that Colonel Russell, one of the men killed in the battle, was shot while on horseback.
Roanoke Island March 3, '62 Dear All, Yours of the 14th inst is just recd & I have not quite finished reading it but as our mail is going immediately I write to say that I am well, though we are not blessed with the quarters which your letter speaks of as the best occupied by union Troops, you refer I suppose to the Rebel barracks which some of our Regt now use I dont know which. I have not been over the island at all yet, being sick almost two weeks & very busy of course now that I am well. I have been into only one fort - the one our troops took, now named battery Russell after col. of the 10th. I was in error concerning the cause of his death, a ball did strike him & passed through his heart. He is a great loss to us not to mention those at home. we are in camp among tall pine trees & stumps, we have quite a good ground for the place. why dont Geo get well, all your letters say he will be out tom - morrow & he must have been sick nearly a month do write very particularly I want to know. Col. Russell was not on horseback, certainly the man that wrote he was never saw the swamp the battle was fought in. There was not a horse in our service, none used by Generals or anybody that day. saw col Mathewson to day, has been very well, came to the tent to see me but did not get off his horse. The 11th are lately up from Hatteras & are in camp quite near us. Col. M. from what I can learn is the laughing stock of the Regt, it is reported round our camps that on drill one day, there being a puddle of water in front, he called to the Regt to "haw round" that water. Then Bela is really going if he can get men enough is he, I fear it will be some time before he can increase his numbers from 9 to 155. They have come for this. How is uncle Geo. Please send weekly N york papers. Love from Chas.
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