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

Morehead city, April 26, 9 A.M. Fort Macon is ours. After receiving our bombardment from about sun rise to four or five in the afternoon, col. white raised a white flag on the walls & parties of truce from each side met between the lines & remained together until nearly dark. We anxiously watched from our station this side hoping to see our troops march into the Fort & pull down the three striped seven starred flag, but darkness closed in & still the flag waved from its staff. Then we speculated on the reason of that, it has (& is on every fort) been the custom to lower at sun set. but to night it still waves & why? During the evening we learned that Genl Parke had signaled for Genl Burnside, who was on the Alice Price up the sound near Beaufort, to come across to the Banks. That was all we could hear. So there was nothing to do but talk that over & then to bed. I was preparing to retire when I heard the front door open & someone enter evidently in a great hurry or considerably excited. I opened my door & saw it was Lt. Moore. He came into my room & I soon knew the good news. The fort had surrendured & Genls Burnside & Parke were to arrange conditions during the night & our troops take possession this morning. The Coln & Major we immediately visited. The major was especially pleased & who would not be somewhat: excited after working as he has over there & then receiving his wound just: before the decisive fight. The major is exceedingly anxious lest some other Regt Flag than ours (the 8th) should be ordered in the fort first. It is our right. We have had a larger number of men on the Banks than others, have done more service & suffer ed more serverely. The 8th was on duty yesterday & we fear that the troops on duty to day will be sent in. The major wants to go over says he knows if he could speak to Genl Parke he would do it & I think he would. we think our Flags are the only ones over there but are not certain. oh I do hope the 8th will be granted this honor we have never had the credit for what we have fairly deserved. This has been learned by us, some of the other troops have been driven back in the skirmishing we have each time driven the rebels we know nothing of the loss on either side, think their loss may be heavy ours must be very light if we have any. Our mortars were finely managed after they got the range almost every shell seemed to burst over or inside the fort. The rebels fired well also they knew all the distances perfectly all the chief part of the afternoon they fired but one gun & then only at large intervals. There was no firing from our 3 rifled guns the latter part of the day & we feared they may have been dismounted. They seemed to hit just the place they wished in the morning. All our batteries were less than a mile distant from the fort, the nearest was five eights. Hope I can add to this before sending other items about battle & surrender. I shall try to send to day. We shall at least add an other name to the two on our flag. Roanoke. Newbern, & now Ft. Macon. Lt. Moore appeared yesterday morning. It was just as we thought he left his hand car without a guard & of course it was carried off He said he could not get one of the articles mentioned in my list, the sutlers were out of most everything, expecting new supplies all the time, he brought me a little box of prunes for which he paid one dollar. Yesterday morning Dr. Storrs said they had been having some toast at the Hospt & the boys liked it so much that he told the cook to send Col & I same. We have had dry toast & butter every meal since. I think I am grow ing fat but have not weighed my self, should soon on such fun any way. I believe he is to continue the toast but the butter has "given out" Could you send me a few pounds of butter in a tin can in the trunk I would like also my cap Pistol & let Geo. buy two boxes of caps smith & wessons if possible. I think the pistol was left in my draw in the paper box it came in, send ramrod too, would like couple papers of farina and cant get it here. round the trunk, not fastened to the trunk, I want two extra straps to strap on blankets & I want a portable ink stand filled with good ink or writing fluid. If I should delay this letter a day or two I probably should think of a dozen other things, but please send as soon as you can. Express mailing will be more likely to come right on now the ships will have so good a harbor at Fort Macon & Beaufort. 3 o'clock P.M. Have been over to the Fort with major & Doctor. The Dr. said it would not hurt me & I wore my overcoat. I did not think ten hours firing would do so much damage. fifteen guns on the fort are dismounted or rendured useless by injuries from our shot & shell. The force of our 50 lb Parrot guns is wonderful. I noticed in one place, where rails of rail road iron had been put up to protect the barracks, a shot from a 50 lb-der had cut two bars entirely off & buried itself in the brick work out of sight. our loss is but one killed & four wounded (all from the artillery) - theirs six killed & 20 wounded some mortally. The Major & I talked some time with Capt Poole (senior rapt) one thing he said is worth noting though I do not believe it. He said that 468 of our shot & shell fell within the fort during the fight of 10 hours. The total rebel force was almost 405 men but not all effective. saw col. white the commander I expected to see an elderly man, as he is generally called "old white" but found him young, 28 or 29, tall & slender in full uniform, the first rebel officer I have ever seen so handsomely dressed of course gray Did not talk with him & the room was too dark to see his face well. The Tribune of the 14th & 15th were the latest paper we had seen Have not the Norwich people heard of the Engagement between Capt. Farnsworth & Miss Georgia Parker of Meriden I think Ellen has never mentioned it. Miss Georgia wrote her brother our present Srgt major that she was to be mar- ried & several of the Meriden boys hear that Miss G.P. is to be married to a Capt. Farnsworth of the cavalry. Do send the paper often I have great doubt about the "death blow out west" as mother calls the battle at Pittsburg Landing I fear that very many of those brave & gallant western soldiers will receive death blows at Corinth even if the western Army does not & Genl McClellan I fear will remain a long while before Yorktown, before he takes it. Genl Mcc. sent to Genl B urnside to make a diversion towards Norfolk to favor him & so Genl B. dispatched Genl Reno with five Regts or parts of five up in that direction, that went within 17 miles we hear & then met 20,000 rebels, had a desperate battle, retreated to their boats, leaving the wounded on shore, the surgeons drawing lots to determine which should remain with them. we hear our loss in killed was 60, chiefly in the 9th New York (zouaves) Regt, & that the enemy's loss is much heavier, & if it answered Genl McC purpose I suppose it paid but I dont like retreats where we leave our wounded behind. This comes to us rather rumor wise & may be pretty exagerated but there is some foundation for it. If the papers have an account of it please forward. Dont circulate it if you have not heard it before. It is not known here except to a very few. I learned it by accident. Your most aff son & bro in a great hurry Chas