Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.217 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Suffolk, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 March 1863 Pagination: 6 p. Order a Copy
Responds to questions from his family about fixtures in their rental properties. Expresses interest in the results of the election and requests that a chess set be sent to him via one of the Norwich men who are home on furlough. Writes that he has sent $370 via another solider traveling to Norwich last week. Writes of the weather getting warmer and of seeing daffodils bloom in the yards in Suffolk. Describes how the soldiers spend Sunday, with detail about what activities they avoid on the Sabbath. Says that he believes that Captain Hoyt would be of better service to the regiment if "he would not use liquor quite so freely."
Camp of 8th CV Suffolk, Sunday eveng
Dear All, Yours of the 26th inst recd this P.M.I am very positive that we bought the gas pipes of ixtrious & also the water work, in the brick store of Burr Bros. & I think you will find them charged on their bill. And I distinctly remember their sharing Douglass' bill for the gas pipes &c to prove to me what the fixtures had cost them, I think tho' it must have been a bill of ours to Wills & Hoxie as the gas was put in while they had possession. If they belonged to Douglass I think he would have applied for payment before this time for I cannot see what profit it could have been to him to leave them so long. Of course he does not claim any thing but the pipes & tho' it might be an object to a Gas company to put up pipes for nothing yet I hardly think a Gas Fitter could be found who would be so accomodating. I think you will find the bill to settle it. I think Geo. is a pretty good hand to travel & see the sights. I have been in Wash- intgon half a dozen times & more but I have not seen what he saw in one day to be sure. I have never had a whole day for sight seeing. It has been a trip that I believe has paid him well & I am very glad he started. I only regret I could see & do so little of for him. I agree with him perfectly about the capital, its a little too steam boaty to suit me. The "lection" tracts were recd yesterday I like to get them. We all here feel a - great - interest in the results & I do indeed hope it will be all right. Capt. Moore starts for home tomorrow & will be there to vote. Is he not fortunate to be in the state just at this time. He has always been a democrat but there is no question which way his vote
will be cast this election. Dad weed another Democrat also leaves for Connt in the morning. He is "all right on the Goose" also. Both I think will have a word to say as well as a vote to cast. Capt. Moore carried a package for you & an envelope enclosing $370. We were paid this A.M. for the four months ending Feby 28th, '63. I would like you to hand Capt Moore one of my sets of chess men to bring back to me I dont care whether you send the set that I bought at Fredericksburg or one of the ivory sets If the latter please send one of the boards that roll up. I dont mean that you have one at home but you would have to buy one. I do hope you will spend this money freely & get all you need & want & enjoy it. I shall want very little of it if any. I dont want to think you are pinching yourselves as I fear you do in many things. Much of the weather here has been delightful almost too warm to drill. I notice in the yards in town just numbers of those early yellow flowers, daffodills, I think in full bloom. I am so sorry I did not get you a rose bush from the Lacy House as I intended. I might have dug one up as well as not but opportunity
to send were rather scarcer. Not much of a Sabbath to day. In the A.M. were paid off in the P.M. read the Tribune which I get regularly here one day old of course & this evening I have again read Mrs. Hubbard's pleasant "Hymns for a week". (they are beau- tiful & I never tire of reading & rereading, they improve with each perusal) the Sabbath Hymn Book & my Testament & Psalms. I was going down to town with a party this evening to get a supper of steamed oysters but remembering it was Sunday, declined & I think the others remained also. Its very hard to make Sunday any different from any other day out here & I sometimes think it is the worst part of the week as we have no drills to occupy the time. There is very little card playing on Sunday almost all of the officers refuse to play on that day and I really think if we had the privilege that we have been accustomed to enjoy at home, with but one or two exceptions all would attend church with real pleasure. As it is it is the loafing day of the week. We have had no services to day, Chaplain Morris is electioneering,. May his work be more fruitful there than it has been here. I think he is liked here much better than previously. Did you receive photographs of Capts. Hoyt, smith, Ripley & Mccall that I sent some time since. Oh, I think George took them when he left. I enclose two more Lieuts Ives, commissary of Col. Harland's Brigade & Dougherty, our Q.M. Shall you be able to get me any of the girl's photographs I dont care much. I shall want ten or a dozen more of my own. Do not ask Capt. Moore to bring back things for me, I do not know as I want any thing & he carries only a valise. Did you ever give Uncle William credit for the money he lent me at Antietam or speak to him of it? How is Uncle Geo. this spring I think you have not mentioned him particularly. Do always remember me to uncle & Aunt. How kind every one has always been to me. I have no news to tell. Every thing is perfectly quiet here. I dont believe Cal's scheme will hatch but as I understand the state of affairs in the 14th. I think he, Capt H. would do them a world of good if he would not use liquor quite so freely. Others might not agree with me on the latter point but I am more particular on that point than most officers in the Army. I do wish Ellen would write more. I find she always has some news to impart that the others do not get and every word from home whether news or not is most acceptable. Its after ten P.M. Good night dear all. Best love to every body but as ever most and best to my own Mother Sister, & brother. Your affct son & bro Chas
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