Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.143 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Middleton, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 September 1862 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes that his regiment set up camp and were promptly called to support batteries. Reports that he and Lieutenant Shepard ate dinner at a private house. They have been expecting to be called into battle for a few days and are able to see other companies in battle in adjacent fields.
Sunday Sept 13 or 14 Middleton. Md. 12 M Dear all. We reached this place yesterday afternoon & bivouacked in an open field as usual. Lt. Shepard & I found dinner at a private house where there were two pretty young ladies. We were gone from half an hour to an hour on our return found the Regt all formed just marching off. Our cavalry had just been repulsed & we were ordered out to support batteries. We are still in the same position just outside the town formed behind the cannon but have recd orders to march may be off any moment There is an artillery battle raging within site off on another range of hills. Cox's Division is engaged. We appear to be pushing them. Within the last three days we have several times expected to be immediately engaged but have been spared thus far. Three men in the 11th Conn were wounded yesterday by a chance shot from a rebel battery in front of us. (The 11th are on the right of Col Harlands Brigade the 8th the center & the 4th RI the left.) We then filed off the main road & came on to this place by another road & if Genl Rodman (Division commander) had pushed us on we could have reached here soon enough to capture the battery. We are off again. shall write when I can but we have no way of sending. Love Chas
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