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 #: GLC03603.283 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 May 1864 Pagination: 4 p. Order a Copy
Writes that he feels as if the Brigader has forgotten the regiment and makes a comparison between officers with military educations to those who lack them. Tells about an attack two days before. Describes the temporary staffing changes due to the losses during battle. Also writes about the damage to the railroad lines being repaired.
Camp of 8th Conn Vol Infy Monday afternoon.
Dear All, Two whole days & one night we have passed in quiet in Camp. Can't understand it at all. Should think our Brig- adier had forgotten us if it was not for the constant orders & circulars that he sends us. I am fast loosing confidence in all civilian officers for high positions. I now believe that a military education tho' it does not of itself make Genls, is necessary for all who hold such high offices. During the past week we have had four Camps tho' its little time that we have passed in either. We are now camped a short distance behind that portion of our intrenched line that our Brigade would be called to defend in case of attack. Night before last there was a heavy attack on the pickets in front of our centre & we fell in line & marched double quick to our post in the trenches we (the 8th) spent the remainder of the night there. I have had the entire command of the Regt for the past week & still command. I am expecting every day that Col. Smith will return to duty when I shall return to my Co. we have now just one Officer to a company through our line. Lt. wells (a new appointment) is in command of B co. In obedience to orders all the troops of this command sleep nights with their arms by their side & their accoutrements on ready to fall in line at a moments notice. We are also required to have a strong camp guard at night & an officer or non- com officer In each Co. sit up the whole night to rouse the Co.s in case of heavy firing. We are also required to be in Regimental line at 3 1/2 o'clock every morning & remain so until sun- rise or in case of fog, until the fog rises. As there is more of less firing every night you can imagine what delightful undisturbed slumber we enjoy. The Rebs are in some force in our front & attack our Picket line almost every day. I presume they annoy us to confine us to our intrenchments while they are repairing the Petersburg & R. R.R. which we destroyed. It is rumored that trains are already running over it but I can hardly believe that they have repaired already the miles that we destroyed so thoroughly. This P.M. I have been visiting in the 10th corps went to 11th Light Battery but did not see Capt. Rockwell. He is chief of Artillery for that portion of the line & was out with flag of truce, the object I do not know. Met Lt. Clinton one of his offs who was at conscript camp last summer. Met Lt. Col. Murkin of the 6th & several other officers who are acquaintances I formed at C. Camp. Col. Murkin is one of our cribbage quartette. He is slightly wounded. Many of the acquaintances formed at conscript camp will be very pleasant for me here. In all your letters you carry the idea that we are going or rather were going to walk right in to Richmond we never expected it & I think every one here thought that Genl Butler was pushing on too far & too rapidly. It is strongly rumored that he has entirely exceeded his orders. That the design of this expedition was to destroy & perhaps hold the P & R RR & worry the enemy all that was possible but not to make a serious advance This seems to me most reasonable. Any way by advancing so rashly (I think it was rash) we have lost the R.R. & are for the moment put entirely on the defensive. I think our position here is emminently safe but at present we appear to be doing almost nothing to forward the grand result. Orders have come in & I have been reading them until its now just time for the mail to close (6 P.M.) & I must dry up. Orders are nothing important - I am very well tho' hardly rested yet. So write very often. I can't get up spunk enough to do anything. The Independent we now get regularly through the chaplain, one copy for each Co. & two or three for Field & staff, so we dont need more. Miss Etta Russell is very kind to send. The weekly courier we also get for distribution in the Regt. Who sends I don't know. very best love, Chas [top margin first page] Have been preparing a letter to Mrs. Goddard. Hope to put it off to night or tomorrow. If you ever have an opportunity to send I need a valise, my little bag is terribly inconvenient & wont carry anything. Dont think of sending by Express, it would never reach me here.
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.