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 #: GLC03603.115 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Newbern, North Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 June 1862 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy

Writes that he hopes to have a tailor in the company make his a coat if his family will send fabric. Is also excited that his company plans to raise up a band.

Monday morning, June 23, well, up at 5 oclock & have had after roll-call Had a good bathe in the Neuse. We have a first rate tailor in the Regt & I had rather intended to ask you to pick out a good peice of cloth for a nice dress coat but I want to hear first that you have recd the $250. Sent & besides the tailor is now sick. I think by having it made here I shall get a better coat at a more reasonable price than any other way. I should not dare trust Mr Thompson's old measure for I think I have grown fat since I left Norwich & I am sure I shant pay the price asked for ready made coats in Newbern. Wish I could come home & get rigged up there & not entirely on that account either. In Jail 23d Meant to have written more but found our boat was just starting for the city & thought I had better save myself a long walk this very hot day. I will go now & put this into the office a few doors below here that it may surely go by next mail. I have taken up smoking again but dont use the weed as much as before. Sorry to write so but perhaps it is only fair to tell you. We are going to raise a BAND aint that nice. Gen Burnside says have one & we mean to tho' it will cost us officers something.

Coit, Charles M., 1838-1878

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources