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

Monday morning Dec. 8, '62 I have not since we have been quar- tered here, written home as often as I had intended & as I have nothing particularly press- ing this morning - was officer of the Day yesterday & consequently am off duty until noon to day - I have taken my book & paper & sitting by the fire, my chair tipped back on two legs, I indite this present epistle. Two Co's. of the 1st Conn Artillery have joined us within a few days & are encamped about one half a mile back of us. (I generally say back of us for tho' this house faces towards their camp we are between them & the river). Squads of them are over here in - our - back yard every day, viewing the rebel batteries opposite & I have inquired after Adjt Learned & Lt. Tingley. All speak highly of both, they say Bela is - popular - & a fine officer. Dec 9. Tuesday - Capt. Ripley & has been rather poorly since his return. The change of water & dirt affects him & he has quite a severe diarrhea & has been blue for a day or two. His arm is doing well. The man of the 21st who was found in his tent frozen to death, had been unwell, hard cold &c & I think must have been neglected by the surgeons. A similar case occured in the 7th Virginia - union - Regt. If this reaches you before Lt. Shepard starts with the valise I wish you would put therein a pair of strong warm gloves, cloth or leather, either, & I think I would like also a pair of one finger mittens. Will you send by mail if Lt. Shepard has gone. We [illegible] our Regt [illegible] have recd no mails for more than a week although mails arrive here almost every day. We cannot understand it and have written to Washington &c about it. Morton Hale was here again yesterday afternoon waiting for the 5 P.M. train on which he expected his father & he was to bring him over here to pass the night. As we have not seen him I presume he did not arrive. Several officers of the 14th have called upon us during the week. They do not think Henry Goddard any thing remarkable evidently. The 14th is encamped beyond Falmouth about 4 miles from this place. I shall go up if I can borrow a horse. Every one describes them as an exceed- ingly dirty set but I think the work on the railroad on which they have lately been engaged explains it. Major ward recd a note from the Asst Adjt Genl of our division a day or two since asking if he wished to be relieved of his present post & duties & he replied that if the General was satisfied with us, he would pre- fer to remain - as the men were now quite comfortably fixed. - We have been fearing since that some of the other Regis were trying to get the position. I do hope they will not succeed & that we may remain in quiet possession while the Army remains near here. I have recd no letters from you in reply to mine written from the - Lacy Mansion -. The latest date came by Capt. Ripley. Photographs of Ellen enclosed. I wish George would write out a full statement of our financial affairs & send me. I am losing track of every thing & I have made so many demands on you since sending any money that I know you must be any thing but flush. I hope I may be paid very soon so as to send you a good remittance & so that I need not call on you again for a long time at least. our chaplain intends to leave for Washington & Harpers Ferry to hunt up some Express matter of his own & I shall send by him to look up my bundle as that has not as yet made its appearance as yet. Called to dinner - Onion soup. After dinner. Orders to cook 3 days rations & all that, have just been received but it may mean something or not, as likely the - last. - The Connt battery are ordered to take position to night I dont know where. I hope & think very probable that we shall be left here to support the battery planted near us. We cannot turn out over 100 men with shoes fit for march- ing. Our clothing has been on the road from Wash- ington nearly two weeks, the barge it was in gone aground. so fully half the Regt would be unable to march. Our regulation hats that we ordered while in Newbern have been chasing us around ever since & have come to hand this afternoon. If we had not engaged them I dont think many of us would pay the $3 for one. They are very easy, warm, shed rain, durable & quite showy but I shall stick to my old cap for marches, &c. Time for mail & I close with bushels of love to you all. Affct son & bro Chas Love to uncle Geo & Aunt Mary & every body. Dec 19. I found this letter this AM ^in the Quarter M's desk^ where it has been the past two days. I dont know but it may explain why the mails are so irregular.