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

Many if's in the way of the majority you will observe. Burn this imme diately. Pleasant valley Va Friday, Octo. 10, 1862 Dear All, When I last wrote we were just about to march from Antietam. The march of six miles to this place was very hard & tedious - climbing the Blue Ridge on the western side & sliding down the Eastern. For a moment as we passed over the crest of the mountain the view was very extended & fine but the greater part of the road was so thickly lined with trees that we could see only the winding path a rod or two in front. The valley where we & a vast number of other troops are encamped is rightly named Pleasant. I forgot the local name of the ridge of mountains just at the western foot of which is our camp. I suppose both ridges are properly a part - spirs - of the Blue Ridge. Maryland Heights are plainly in sight & every night we see the signals lights swinging. We are three miles from the nearest railroad station - Knoxville & Harper's Ferry is two miles further west. Col. Harland has in his brigade four Conn Regts - the 8th 11th 16th & 21st. I am almost provoked that the col. does not do something to ensure his appointment as Brigadier for he acknowledged to me that he did not doubt his success if he should write a statement of his case to Foster Dixon Burnham & Buckingham enclosing to each a copy of Genl Burnside's recommendation & asking a word from them. But he will not ask favors of any man & what he gets will be from no political influence but entirely from merit. He may but get the appointment now but he says he thinks it very doubtful. If he should succeed & Col. Appelman is unable to return , as is very probable major ward would undoubtedly be our Coln, - Capt. Upham Lt. Col. & Col. H says he should recommend - rapt. Coit. - for the majority. There are several Capts who rank capt c., but the col. says one or two are certainly as high in rank as they should be & the others are not tough enough physically. I think Capt. C. would deci- dedly prefer the majority of the glorious old 8th to a post in one of the old Regts. Col. H went so far as to say that after a short experience as major, Capt. Coit would be perfectly competent to take command of a Regt. We had a very plain talk I must say. Of course, as usual, mum is the word in these matters & I write only to mother, sister & Brother. Adjt. Dutton was here a few moments this A.M. Adjt. Arms of the 20th I met at Col. Hs tent yesterday or the day before. Saw Kit Brand of the 21st a day or two since. His chances for a Lieutenancy are said to be good. Met Mr. H B Norton at major ward's tent for a few moments this morning & this noon an orderly from Col. H came to inform me that Mr. Norton & Mr WP Jr, Mrs. & Miss Greene were at his tent & desired to see me. Went right up there looking like the dickens & found them just driving off in an ambulance wagon, got in & rode a short distance with them toward the depot & then excused myself & vamosed - I did not feel at home at all & was glad to get away. The orderly did not come directly for me or I should have seen them with Col. H. Major W. & Capt. Moore which would have been more pleasant. Was hardly surprised to find by your letter of the 4th inst. Saturday evening, that Stephen Meech was really trapped by Miss Irwin. I dont care he is welcome to what he gets. Please wish them all joy for me. I presume Steve will be off before this reaches you. I wish his Regt would come out here. We have 6 or 7 Connt Regts in the valley with us. It is very generally believed here that the nine months Regts will be left to the delightful & highly glorious & responsible positions of guarding rail roads, bridges &c. I dont envy them if it is true. Best regards to Mrs Pratt & Mrs G. Heard that Harry G was well thro Kit Brand. The 14th are not near us. I have in my tent with me two Lieuts of other Cos we are so crowded & as I just looked up from my writing I noticed that Lt. weed had headed his letters "Head Quarters of the 8th &c. He is a very illiterate man & not a particularly pleasant tent mate. Lt. Goodrich is a fine fellow - is of same Co. with Lt. Weed but is now acting in command of Co. C. Capt. Ripley's Co. - so my tent is really the Hd. Qts of three Co's & full about all the time particularly at present as we are issuing clothing. I intend writing Lt. Shepard to day & inclosing his letters & ditto to Lt. Eaton. I tried last night to write Dr. Pease about the Co. & the conduct of the boys during the battle but gave up in despair. I wish mother was here to help. I am sorry George is disappointed in getting place in Norwich Bank but I really think if he continues in the Insurance business he will get as large or larger salary & not be quite as much confined. And I have not all the confidence in the world in our friends the Johnsons. I did not know before of uncle Geo's new business in the Rolling mill - what is it? Love to uncle & Aunt. I think I could not do a better thing to recommend myself than sending Lt. Shepard home for I think he has a great respect for me as you say. The horrors of the battle field have passed moving & as we marched past the dead left on the battle field I could only think, - that man is our loss & their gain & of a rebel. - that's is all our gain. I was surprised at myself when with all the rest was united the smell I made up my mind that I had lost all feeling whatever. Live rebels, with theirs pointing towards me, I find is a much more horrid sight than heaps of them dead. Have just returned from major ward's tent where I went to beg off serving in a Genl Court Martial. He told me frankly that there were some Capts whom he did not wish to send to such a place where each officer is in a measure considered a representative of his own Regiment. Saturday morning Octo. 11. I sit with my overcoat on as I write this morning. The first really unpleasant day since leaving Washington. I have bought me an army over coat - it will cost me but two or three dollars at most as I bought of one of the men who picked up an extra one on the battle field. On the field in one place I saw blankets & overcoats, to have fully equipped our present regt, that had been thrown away. I wrote Lts. Eaton & Shepard last evening & several business letters. I inclose copy of letter to Lt Eaton as it refers to one or two things that I believe I have not before mentioned. I say that I was much pleased with his account of the fight. Was it publish ed in the Bulletin. I think it incorrect in several particulars & I was not partic- ularly pleased with his repetition of "my company" as tho' he was in com- mand. I think that any one reading it would say that he was in command during the battle, when if the truth be told, he was very much excited or else willfully neglected his duty (which I dont believe) in that he did not perform the only duty of his position as file closer & keep the men in the ranks. Several, two or three, fell out or rather did not rise up & go forward up the last hill, & they were men that I do not believe if he had spoken the right word. I think when he writes of "my company" he is bound to mention the captain or else he conveys an entirely false impression. But he is a very queer man & I sometimes think he has never quite recovered his balance since his sickness in No Carolina & you never know how he will take any thing - that's partly why I send you the copy for I should not be in the least surprised if he was mad because I write that I am happy to hear that he arrived home safe. I write to Lt. Shepard just as I have a mind to & this one is perfectly ridiculous. I tried to make it as much so as possible as I think any thing of the kind pleases him Please make the three new flannel shirts large. The one I have on I can hardly button the sleeves half way up my arm - the first button in front is useless & using the 2nd button makes just a tight fit round the neck & I turn the corners in - it's just long enough to join my pants. I do not think we shall move from here soon - think fighting is over for the present & that we shall winter near here if We move at all. Dont send me any thing by Express. Am living in great style at the (upside down on top of page 3.) Major's me. Have had tomatoes several times & potatoes & meat every day. Love Chas