Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.297 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 July 1864 Pagination: 4 p. Order a Copy
Writes about the hardships of being shuffled from the front to the back. Responds to news about Beckwith and James Jennings, both soldiers from Connecticut who have suffered what Coit believes to be self-inflicted wounds. Describes motivating frightened soldiers with threats. Discusses the clean springs near the rifle pits that Coit says provide good water while they are fighting.
Dear All,
We are again passing our day in the rear = over 20 hours rather after two days at the front, and I must write a few lines home if I put off other matters. When we ascertained yesterday that we should be relieved at night we sent back to the wagon train & had our wall tent brought up & pitched on the ground we have always occupied & also had our baggage brought up so that we could get at work in good season this morning but our Generals saw fit to march us back to a different location & we did not succeed in obtaining the tent & baggage until nearly noon so half of to day is lost to us, but so it always is in this business always working at a disadvantage. When it is impossible to have any thing with you, you have an abundance of time but when every thing is at hand you are sure to be headed off in some unexpected manner. You have mentioned Beckwith in several of your letters. I hope he may meet with as much sympathy at home as he receives here for as his wound is supposed to have been - self inflicted - we cant pity him much. James Jennings our other Norwich boy is also home I presume, he is suffering also from wounds inflicted by him self. This is the third time he has wounded him- self & I hope he may be court Martialed & suffer the very extreme of the law as an example to others. I pity the man for I suppose it is almost a physical impossibility for him to stand fire, but if such men can be made to fear being in the rear more than in the front I find they will go through any thing - One example. I gave one man in Co. I the choice of "doing his duty under - fire or being shot the next time he failed - this was while at Coal Harbor - & since he has proved a first rate soldier in every respect. At the same time I gave all the Regt to understand the same and we have had no shirks since to my knowledge.
I suppose I date from Head Qts. to day for the last time for the present at least for Col. Ward intends to join us to night & take command. I must own I am rather sorry. After commanding a Regt for nearly two months & two such months it will seem rather tame to return to my Co. Col. Ward is not strong yet by any means & I hope he may wish me to assist him tho' I dont expect it we are so short for company officers - part of the time have had but six for ten Co's. Last letter recd from you is dated June 30 The account in Tribune of the doings, including our charge of the 18th corps is uncommonly correct tho' there are some errors of course. The Capt Hoyt for instance should have been spelt with a c & an i instead of H & y. So you really intend to spend part of the summer in Pomfret. I am real glad cousin Lou can take you & I do especially glad you are going on George's account. I do hope he will be greatly benefitted by the farm life at Mr. Mathewson. I wonder that you will survive financially I am very sorry I cant help you when the US owes me so much. I shant send any money at present & I hope not before we
are paid again. Col. Ward has just paid me $25 that he borrowed some months since. I am glad Geo. is going in to collect the rents - if he is not studying - rather than to have Uncle Geo. put to so much trouble. I have met Alfred Rockwell since his promotion but it does provoke me that the stay at home people in Norwich should talk so about him. He is without doubt brave & a superior officer. I am very glad mother did not send the correction to the Tribune (Hoyt vs. Coit) we have been much blessed in having good water while in the rifle pits. There are several fine springs near our line and a mortar shell from the Rebs a few days since opened another into which a drum has been placed & its about the best of the whole. Do so again, Mr. Reb. Water is rather scarce generally, but what we got is good - not the - surface - water that kills so many. I see by the papers that we have had a refreshing rain lately. I wonder when I lay out at night with nothing over me & did not get wet. It was hardly a sprinkle on our part of the line. The dust is terrible & - Flies - are without number. The mosquito net recd, Thanks. Do remember me to every body & always particularly to uncle Geo & Aunt Mary. Am glad Mrs. Buckingham is so kind. God be merciful to us & bless us. Your affct son & bro Chas
[top margin first page] Do write often. No one else writes to me except on business for I never answer 5 P.M. Col. Ward is not feeling as well this P.M. & will not go out with us.
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