Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.272 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Yorktown, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 April 1864 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Notes that many different regiments are gathering in the Yorktown area. Everyone is being ordered to store or ship their possessions. Writes that all men, including the band, are being armed.
Camp at Yorktown Apl 24. 1864 -
Dear All, Sunday again & have been engaged with Regimental Inspection & in making reports consequent there upon all day with the exception of an hour that I attended chaplain smith's services & now I write a few lines to the dear ones before girding my- self for Brigade Dress Parade at 5 o'clock. The Parade will consume an hour & then my sabbath can commence. orders have just been received to have all our surplus baggage stored at Norfolk within five days so I conclude we shall be on the tramp again in a week or ten days. I hope you recd my last letter & I shall receive the woolen stockings in due time. Quite a heavy force is assembling here, at Glouster Point & Yorktown, Capt. Alfred Rockwell with his battery arrived yesterday at Glouster Point & came across in the P.M. & passed the night with Col. Ward. Col. W. Capt R were in our tent all last evening & I for one passed a most pleasant evening talking over Norwich news & things in general. All the white troops from So. Carolina seem to be moving this way. we are in the 2d Brigade 1st Division 18th Army corps. Our Division (the 1st) commanded by Genl Brooks & our Brigade composed of the 8th Connt 10th N.H. 13th New Hamp. & 118th New York Regts commanded by Genl Birney a Maine man, lately appointed, well spoken of
The 1st Brigade of our Division composed of 81st, 96th, 98th, & 139th New York Regts The 11th Connt is in 2d Brigade, 2d Div, 18th A.C. All Genl Gilmore's troops, the 10th A.C. are rendezvouzing at Glouster Point - the 18th A.C., Genl Smith, this side & the 9th A.C., with old Burnside at Annapolis. I hope & rather expect that Burnside will join us with the 9th & he assume command of the whole. If we are really to have work to do I hope Burnside will be the head & control- ling spirit. within a day or two I shall have to pack up my company papers, except the few that I can carry in my bag & ship off to Norfolk every thing except the real necessaries - change of clothing &c. Good bye until after Dress Parade. our Genls are inspecting all the Regts & picking up all the loose men & arming them - they certainly intend to make some work this time. Our Band is to be disbanded (no pun intended) & the men armed. We have never seen such thorough work before. Officeres are allowed nothing but a - small - valise & no mess kits. I think we will have to live with our companies. Your last letter recd is dated Apl 14 & 16, ten days ago, I did hope for one today. Geo. writes he is to be a "wild legion" wonder if that's not preferable to a civilized one as I am to be. Very glad he passed the examination so well. Is it best to go into the Drs off. during vacation. Sorry you lost Col. Ward's call, he said he called. I sent my trunk to "Geo. D Coit New Haven Ct to be kept at Ex. off. until called for" - did not prepay. Shall send you $100. in a day or two. Must close. Good night deal all write often do Chas
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