Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.117 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: White House, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 June 1862 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes of having command to the picket of his brigade. The brigade is 20 miles from Richmond and Coit writes of his uncertainty of the mission's plan. Also mentions hoping to be involved in the capture of Richmond. The Division has been reassigned from the 9th A.C. to the 7th A.C.
Monday noon White House, Va June 29 Dear All, Am sorry that I have lost two opportunities of writing you since we arrived here - yesterday & this morning. Was on Picket Saturday & did not get back to camp yesterday until nearly noon & being pretty tired & not knowing of any mail departing I neglected to write. I had command of the Picket Saturday & did not get back to camp yesterday until nearly noon & being pretty tired & not knowing of any mail departing I neglected to write. I had command of the pickets of our Brigade. During the afternoon of Saturday I had orders to advance the line and connect with pickets of 1st and 3d Brigades - This gave me a line of pickets of nearly two miles & I did not get the whole - reserves & pickets - posted until about eleven o'clock at night I had but one Lieut. to assist me - from the 15th Ct. - & he made several mistakes in posting a part of the line that delayed me some time in correcting. I don't like picket duty when I have the command & there is any danger of attack. I think it would generally require more originality & ability to command a long picket line when attacked than to command a Regt in a general battle. We are within twenty miles of Richmond - not quite within sight of the church spires but considerably more than we have ever been before. We have each day expected marching orders but they do not come as yet mean while troops are joining us every day - quite a heavy force is expected from No. Carolina & we have rumors of the like from so. Carolina. My first idea of this movement was that it would be a rapid infantry raid round North of Richmond to permanently destroy Lee's communication with the south but we move so delib erately & are accumulating so heavy a force that I hardly know what to think unless it be an onward to Richmond. All the intelligent contraband & the like information is to the effect that Richmond is almost entirely unguarded. I hope we shall so find it if we move that way. I would like well to be engaged in its capture. I don't think we can ever expect the 8th to lie quiet long. The sword, sash, belt & cap purchased by the 8th officers arrived Saturday & was immediately presented to the General. The horse equipments have not been bought yet. The non-commisn officers of the Regt has purchased a splendid field glass for him it beats mine all hollow but they have not yet presented it. Some of the officers are a little provoked that Col. Ward Lt. Col. Smith & Capt. Hoyt should have taken the whole matter into their hands & made the presentations without their knowledge. They say they had an equal interest with the three who appeared & would like to have been present, they think they might at least have been priveleged with a look at the presents. But four or five of the officers have seen the sword &c at all. I called on the Genl this morning & inspected the articles. They are very handsome but nothing remarkable. Evening 10 P.M. At Dress Parade this PM and order was read assigning our Division to the 7th A.C. So we are now the 2d Brigade 2d Division 7th A.C. - please direct accordingly. We are not at all pleased with the change. The boys in the Regt made a banner of a shelter tent & inscribed hurra 9th A.C. & had a general time parading thro' the Division cheering for Burnside & the 9th & groaning for the 7th A.C. Love Chas July 1 62 evening All our orders are changed & we now have, at 5 A M tomorrow to go somewhere I dont know where. We go short distances by cars & then by boat the remainder. Dont know whether North or South. Am very well & busy packing. Sent saddle by Express to day paid thro'. Shepard takes this over to Po tonight Best love to all dear ones Good bye, Chas
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