Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.248 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Yorktown, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 July 1863 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes that they have received word of Vicksburg, Mississippi and [General Ulysses] Grant's victories. The marching is very hard on the men and he writes that half of them, himself included, are marching barefoot because of wet boots and swollen feet.
Yorktown July 11
Dear All. Arrived here last night tired & foot sore. Have to day recd yours of 6th inst. & we also got papers with news of fall of Vicksburg & Grant's success. Bully for them. We are lying by to day resting & cooking rations for the remainder of our march to Ft. Monroe. we expect to go from the Fortress direct to our old camp at Portsmouth. Our marching since the 1st inst has been the most severe we have ever known because of the extreme heat - we have made no very rapid or very long march - the longest was twenty six miles in eighteen hours. About half the troops are barefooted & a good proportion of the officers. I marched bare footed all day before yesterday about eighteen miles - I could not get on my boots they had been so thoroughly soaked the day before. Glad you have Mr. D.Paturains's advice about George. I think Mr. Jenson would be a first rate man to attend to our business I like him better than A. G. Park tho' I dont know that he would manage any better. I have recd the check for company savings & thought I had acknowledged it. I can't write more to day will write fully in a few days George &c. Love Chas
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.