Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.289 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 9 June 1864 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes that he has been in the rear trenches for a day and will be moving to the front at night. Reports that the regiment consistently loses men in the battle. Writes of leaving the trenches to track down the regiment's luggage. Says that the Lieutenant Colonel Burpee was shot and killed in battle.
Hd. Qts. 8th C.V.
In the field, June 9, 1864
Dear All,
I am well & hearty & I am very much inclined to stop writing right here for I dont feel spunky enough to propel the pencil. To day we are lying in the rear lines of trenches & to night we go to the front for twenty four hours. There is hardly any more danger in the front than here. We are not under much heavier fire at the front than here & in either place if twas possible to remain in the trenches all the time no one would be hurt. We are loosing men every day for we are never out of range & men will expose themselves. I think in our front we have about a dozen parallel lines a few rods apart, intersected with traverses & covered ways. The Rebs could hardly charge over the works if we had no troops behind. Officers tell me that our ground is only a sample of the ground all the way from Spotsylvania. I think within a few days we (18th corps) shall move from the right of the line which we occupy in connection with the 9th corps, to the left. This seems to be the movement in the Army of the Potomac - always from right to left. This life is terribly tedious for we are doing little except lying in the trenches & you cannot think how dirty we are. Living in holes with no comforts. My present furniture consists of a rubber blanket, haversack, canteen & sword. I got permission from Genl Burnham yesterday P.M. & off I started for our baggage wagon about five miles in the rear or rather to the left. I stopped at the corps Hospt about a mile in the rear where Dr. Storrs gave me a good dinner & from there I sent a man on to the wagons for a horse & when the man returned with the horse I rode to the wagon got out a change of underclothing found a beautiful spring & had a bully wash - it made a new man out of me. Then I rode back to the Hospt & there had supper - baked beans & tea - & left my horse & footed it back to the trenches. I was absent from the Regt nearly six hours & no one who has not experienced the like can appreciate the relief the horseback ride & change affected. Dont think that the horseback ride was thro' green fields. The Army of Potomac never see them. Tho' the road was of good width yet the fields on both sides are, seriously traveled as well. No road hardly could be wide enough for the constant passage of troops baggage wagons ambulances &c connected with this army. The five miles that I rode was a continuous line of them. The dust is horrible almost blinding. June 10 A.M. In second line of trenches supporting 13th N. Hamp. Regt. Lying under the trees writing. The chaplain has just brought up & distributed the mail but it brings me nothing from you. By the way, I have an abundance of money for the present. Yesterday an officer paid me $10 which he owed & I have received your three enclosures. Lt. Col. Burpee of the 21st coon was shot yesterday & we hear that he died last night. I believe he came from Pomfret or that region. I must close. I cant write any thing that I mean to write or as I wish to I dont know why but I dont seem to have an idea in my noodle. I have to make a detailed report of rations of the Regt since the 1st instant. I have been careless & have kept no memorandums Good day with best love
Your affct son & bro Chas
Do write very often
Regards to every body
Recd paper from Aunt Mary
many thanks
send weekly Times
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