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

Ft. Jerico, June 12, 1863
Dear All, I have been obliged to answer a couple of business letters this morning & I will keep my pen going in writing to you an epistle for I dont know where I shall have spunk enough to start afresh again. one letter that I wrote this A.M. was an answer to one from a woman enquiring after her husband from whom she had heard nothing of late. She had heard of one of my men being arrested for desertion, bearing nearly the same name as her husband & therefor wrote to me. I could not help her. NOW about the Baltimore visit - I reached the great city at six or seven o'clock in the morning & started first for the Express Office. After finishing my business there I walked up & down Baltimore street several hours gazing into the store windows, making a few little purchases & enjoying myself hugely. This was the pleasantest part of the clay - if there is any thing that is particularly pleasing to me its a crowded street. The last hour or two there were a great many ladies out, & as I was a stranger I felt at perfect liberty to stand at a window & look at the pretty things within as long as I wished to and when I tired of that to refresh my self by looking at the pretty faces in the street. I had forgotten there were so many pretty things in the world as I saw those few hours in the windows in Baltimore street. At half past nine a thankful I went to a Notary's office & I waited there nearly an hour & a half before
completing any business. The Notary - Col. Rich - is one of the Governor's Aid de camps & I believe a rascal for he charged me a dollar for the little he did for me, hardly more than signing his name. I don't believe he had any right to charge so much. I never felt more provoked over a little thing. After carrying my purchases down to the boat, I called at Cousin Ellen's store & not finding him at home went to Ellen's. I think she must have been home drawing or changing help or something of the kind for she was evidently not pleased to see me & did not want to see me & I was too stupid to know how to get away. I had not washed me since leaving the boat at 6 A.M. & had been round in the street dust for nearly six hours & I was dirty enough. I had rather planned out my visit at Cousin Ellen's I fancied she would offer me a room or at least a place to wash & brush my hair & I was dreadfully perplexed that she did not. If I had felt clean I could have got along for I should have said that I had only time to make a short call & go to one of the other cousins. & so leave as I knew all the time she wanted me to but as I had left camp only expecting to be about during the afternoon I was not any way fully dresed. Then I had forgotten all about the other cousins & was rather afraid to call lest I should show my ignorance. All I could remember was that Dr. Elisha married Verda. Had an idea one or the other had some children but did not know which. Had forgotten there was a cousin James. Therefor I stuck by Cousin Ellen. John came in & sat a few moments before dinner. Ellen I think did not ask me to stay to dinner but I thought they wold have some so I waited and at last it came sure enough. But I had been uncomfortable so long that I had no appetite for it. Becky came in a short time before dinner & after she came Mrs. P. was out of the room most of the time, so I thought they might be without any help or at least green help. Becky also did all the waiting on the table. Every thing they had (a nice dinner by the way) could have been prepared after I came - broiled fish & beef steak with vegetables, & ice cream & straw berries for dessert. After dinner John came in again & went with me to call at Janus' & Elisha's but I think I felt much as a charcoal vendor or a chimney sweep would have felt if he had been escorted round on a visit to his relations with all his dirty clothes on. Had very pleasant calls at both places. Dr. Elisha & the boy had gone to Washington with friends that very morning. Mrs. Perkins was very sociable & pleasant & what was more to the point she brought on two nice saucers of straw- berries & cream for John & I. Bully for the strawberries. Had but time to make short calls both places & then go direct to the boat. Altogether the visit was a pleasant one but when I go again I would like to go prepared & I would be very careful to wash my face & hands shortly before making calls. They all spoke of my looking so well & being so much tanned - it was only persperation & dust. I am really ashamed to write all this showing my self off in such a foolish light & would destroy it now but I do think altogether it is too good a joke to keep. If you can see in it as much to laugh over as I do I am sure this letter will prevent any symptoms of the dispeptia (I know that's not spelt right) appearing in any of the guns for the present. The sail from Norfolk to Baltimore was most pleasant, and such a relief to get the sea breeze for a short time. Nothing new here. We expect in a few days to move down near Portsmouth to build Forts but I don't know that it's certain. we receive the New York papers regularly - one day late - I do think the present position of the union armies most interesting. It seems to one to be another of the crisis where every one asks is the war to be long or short? I believe Vicksburg will surely be ours if it has not already surrendured & I hope as much from Port Hudson. I hardly know what to make of Hooker's reconnaissance. I cannot believe that Lee will again march into Maryland or Penn. or attack Washington or Baltimore or Pittsburg. If Lee should move North I do truly believe his army will be destroyed. He cannot hope for another Antietam - drawn battle - . I do hope the old Regts will speedily be filled up with the conscripts - we can make soldiers of them in almost no time. fill up the old Regts to the maximum number & we shall have troops enough. George - If Descriptive Lists are given to the men they could after draw their pay a second time &c. The $10. you sent is recd. I hope you have recd the $120. sent you from Baltimore. The Bounty check I gave pay for of course I would not be guilty of making money out of the men by buying them at less. The men are almost always short for money when those are given out & they sell them for what ever they can get - sometimes five dollars & never over nine. I do think there should be some way provided to save them this loss. - The bundle has not arrived yet. I shall - begin to expect - it in about a month. Best love from your acct son & bro - Chas
[top margin first page] I enclose a Lake Drummond - Dismal swamp - Magnolia
- pressed. They are very plenty here & so sweet.