Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.124 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Newport News, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 July 1862 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes of the steamer trip to Norfolk to acquire more coal. Mentions being able to see the wrecks of the Cumberland and the Congress from where the Regiment is camped. Also writes of what a fine city Norfolk is.
Camp of 8th Regt Conn Vols Newport News Va July 14 1862 Dear All, I have received no letter from you since the 24th ult. twenty days ago. This seems a very long time to be waiting & if I was not sure that it is owing to our change of - residence - I should feel very anxious but I suppose all our mails have gone to Newbern instead of stopping at the Fortress. I can hardly realize that twenty days have elapsed since your last. How much I have seen during those days, and most of them have been very pleasant days. Many here speak of the trip from NewBern to this place including the afternoon in Norfolk as an excursion. I enjoyed my after- noon in Norfolk exceedingly. Last Wednesday as we were lying off Fortress Monroe orders came to us to proceed up to Norfolk to coal. We left the Fortress during the forenoon & arrived at N. about three o'clock P.M. The sail up gave us a sight of almost all the points so much talked & written about early in the war. Hampton in the distance first - as we enter Elizabeth River on the left are the famous Sewalls Point batteries & strong & formidable they look even now - on the right as we enter almost out of sight on the right bank of the James is Newport News further up the river is Crany Island & its batteries &c &c. We reached Norfolk about 8 PM & wandered all over the city until dark - it is a much larger & finer city than I supposed. Actually saw quite a number of ladies hansomely dressed & wearing hoops. A most welcome sight. The style of No Carolina is decidedly below par. We lay over night at the dock & when I waked about six the next morning I found we were well on our way down the river. We received orders to proceed to this place during the day we debarked & encamped on the sacred soil of Virginia. Our camp over looks the fighting ground of the Merrimac & Monitor & in plain sight are the wrecks of the Cumberland & Congress. July 16, 1862. Recd three letters from you & one from uncle G this morning. they have been on a trip to NewBern just returned, no date later than July 4 but it is good to get news even as old as that seems & very welcome are these letters. It is too confounded hot to write, this minute the sweat is running off me in a perfect stream. Beckwith I understand was released after confinement a day or two. Your letters this AM was my first knowledge of the matter. I must stop writing or melt, it is hotter in my tent than in the sun outside. Direct Burnside Division Fortress Monroe Bestest love Chas Am very well. Fat, & black as a niggar.
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