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

On Picket, June 17, '63
Dear All, Since I returned to camp, from Ft. Jericho, the duties are any thing but few & far between. I was officer of the Day in Camp day before yesterday & today am in command of the Pickets. The Picket lines are quite extended - some five or six miles - but as there are Lieuts. in command of different portions of the lines it is not necessary for me to visit the whole line. My post is with the reserve, posted at a house only about a quarter of a mile from camp. I have a large front room for my quarters for the twenty four hours that I am on duty. There are fine large shade trees in front & altogether this duty is quite as pleasant as duty in camp. we to day recd the N.A. papers with first accounts of Rebel raid into Maryland & Penna. I did not have time to more than glance at the headings. I do believe the Rebellion is on its last legs, & that the end is nigh. I do not believe their Army will return as complete as after their raid last fall. I hope there will be no such indecisive victories as ours at Antietam. Will not the families & citizens of Penna generally - I presume they are all armed now - & resist. while I have no faith in the "militia" as opposed to organized troops in a pitched battle yet I know they can terribly harass foraging & scouting parties & thus greatly injure the main army. I will not believe that they (the Rebs) will be permitted to recross the Potomac as scathless as a year ago. I presume the 18th C.V. will at last have the long desired opportunity to load & discharge their pieces. I wonder if they are as eager for the fray as they were while in their safe quarters in Baltimore. Do you hear any thing definite from Steve Meech? Are the 18th C.V. with Milroy at Wincheseter? You write - "oh how I wish you could come home for a few days - when you were so near." I do not think you know how near I really was for you can hardly realize how near any place seems when beyond the region of Paesis. From Baltimore I could have gone home & I assure it was any thing but pleasant to turn my back towards old Norwich when I was out side the limits & in a measure at least my own near. I would so like to talk over all your plans for yourselves & George. Every time I write I intend to say something about them but I never know what to advise. I feel that I know nothing about such matters. I do hope Geo. may have the advantages of a good education & all the money that can be found out of uncle wm. I do think it safe to so appropriate. What a man he is. Do thank Mrs. Bond particularly for the vinegar. I had not tasted it when I wrote before - I certainly never saw better, I use it on almost every thing & drink it with water & sugar. All the things were just what I wanted - the pickles are bully & the cookies carry me right home. Sardines I always like but thirty cents a box is a pretty steep price I should think. Here the same size costs 50c This will very probably be my last letter from this place. The 16th CV took the cars for Portsmouth yesterday & I presume we are to follow soon. This place is evidently to be evacuated. The guns are now being removed from all the forts. The line of defenses near Ports- mouth can be held with a much less force & I cannot see that the possession of Suffolk is of any real importance to us. I do not think our Division will be called for to oppose Lee in Md. or Penn. tho' I think very probably some of these troops will go. Genl Getty has had the building of all the forts &c near Portsmouth & I would think be left with his troops to defend them. What a grand letter Lincoln wrote on the Vallindigham question. Hope Ellen has [top margin first page] gone to Springfield with Eliz Perkins. I know she would enjoy. You know I spoiled her visit there last Sepember. Bundle not yet recd Had not Slocum better inquire for it. Love -Chas