Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family/Orderly Gammwell
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.215 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Suffolk, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 March 1863 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes that he wishes that the receiver's furlong would be long enough to cast a vote for "the suppression of Rebellion". Makes reference to the Hartford Convention of 1863. A draft of a note written to Orderly Gammwell but sent to his family with an explanatory note at the end.
Camp of 8th C.V. Suffolk. Wednesday evening 10 1/2 o'clock P.M.
Dear All, Met Genl Harland yesterday & he asked me if I had called on Col. Beach of the 16th C.V. lately and added further that there was a - possibility - of my being made Major of that Regt. I do not think there is the least prob- ability of it & I surely shan't cry over it for I can't but think that a captain in the old 8th is a bigger man than a major of the double 8. Of course all my friends are in this Regt. and I have a great many here I do feel. And now I will tell you all I know about it. Last week Friday in the afternoon Major Upham came to me, took my arm, said he had got a furlough & wanted me to go & drink a glass of beer with him. He was to leave the next morning. I had been shoveling snow & snowballing until I was soaked through & to finish up had had a real rough & tumble with Sam Foss in Capt Hoyt's tent & I was looking rough enough. I marched off with the Major congratulating him & paying no attention where we were going supposing of course he was going to some Sutler's tent. Well we brought up at Lieut. Col. Burnham's tent, the major re- marking that the Coln had just bought a pitcher of beer & we would try it. We were hardly seated before Col. Beach walked in. He is a Regular Army officer & my only thought was "this is no place for me looking as I do, hand on your beer & I'll wish you a pleasant trip home & leave you", but the major seemed in no hurry & I could not speak first so we four sat a few moments talking much to my discomfort - then we absorbed the beer and soon after Col. Beach left & after a little further sweet converse major & I did ditto. I now understand that it was all a plain to show me up before Col. Beach. I thought they were all mighty polite to me but laid it all to their joy at receiving their furloughs. - Col. Burnham & the major were both going I acknowledge I was completely sold. As I said before I do not expect it & would not ask for it if I could have it for the asking. I saw Col Harland last evening & I do not believe he thinks I shall receive it. You of course will - not - mention a word of this to any one. Recd yours of the 19th yesterday & also Bulletins of 19th & 21st with our "appeal", the Aurora's squib, & Bromley's reply. I know he wrote it & bully for him. The paper - through- out - said as plainly as words could have made it "Bromley's round". I have given the papers a pretty thorough circulation among the officers & they have furnished us with
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