Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.307 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Petersburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 August 1864 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes to request his Receipt Roll, which he accidentally sent home with his clothing return. Requests a response from his family regarding the memo he sent about the officers who died in battle. Says that the memo has yet to be published and circulated. Describes the camp that the regiment occupies. Writes that he will be getting loan of a horse.
Hd. Qts. 8th C.V.I. Camp Sunday P.M.
Dear All,
Very carelessly I sent to you for safe keeping my July Clothing Return before I had charged on my books the amounts drawn by the men. So I now want George to refer to the Receipt Roll & copy the names with amounts in dollars & cents set opposite. This Roll is a sheet of fools cap, ruled with lead pencil, giving the names, articles, money value receipts & witness to the receipt. All that I care for is the names & money value. If these papers are in New Haven I must ask Geo. to charge his mind with it & send me as soon as he returns. I was very careless indeed. I completed my Returns one P.M. just before the mail left & enclosed my retained copy to you in haste as we were going to the front that night: and our camp is so near the lines that I dislike to keep any valuable papers here a moment longer than necessary. You have never mentioned the order that I sent you a copy of regarding our deceased officers. I wanted to know what you thought of it. It has not been published yet & have shown it to no one. Mr. Smith our Chaplain is unwell today therefor we have no services & I have been engaged all the A.M. upon a report that I was called upon to make to Brigade Hd. Qts. in regard to officers, whether we have enough present to ensure the proper discipline in the Regt, whether vacancies have been filled &c I had to ride down to Col Wards quarters to consult him about it as I did not like to meddle with such a report where he is responsible without consulting him.
I am very sorry we have no services to day for as we are in the trenches two days & then at camp two our next Sabbath will be passed in the trenches & there services of any kind are impossible. we were in camp Thursday last & Mr. Smith held a short service in the P.M. I did not like that the day should pass without any recognition from us when we of all men are so especially interested. I could not but notice the Herald's record of the day in New York City - fast day fast driving fast sailing &c but very little fasting.. I hope it is differently observed in New England. I think I have not written particularly of our new Camp - we are much nearer the front than before but in a much more secure place. We are camped in quite a deep ravine & therefor entirely sheltered from any chance shot flying this way. My tent Hd. Qts. is pitched in the side of the hill & we have a shade of boughs built over it but best of all within six feet of the door we have a hard tack box set in the bank, the bottom is covered with pebbles, bushes entirely shade it and it is all ways over flowing with the clearest, coolest & best water I have seen in Virginia. Always excepting one spring, that I saw on our raid last summer that was cut in solid rock. I do rejoice with Geo. that he has obtained a Scholarship I do hope he may return with confirmed health & be able to thoroughly finish this course at last. If I come home in the fall, October, what shall I do? I am sure I dont know and I am almost decided about it. I dont want to leave but I am not willing to be fastened for another three years if there are to be no officers in the Regt with whom I can commune intimately & all the best will I think leave. It's later than I supposed & I close. Best regard to uncle Lew & wife & the Mathewsons. Hope Joseph's wound is not as severe as reported. Yours of the 1st inst recd. Expect my valise &c tomorrow. Do write often. I have directed two letters
[1] to Norwich care uncle Geo. Affct son & bro Chas
[top margin first page] As commanding the Regt I have made requisition for a Government horse & its been approved by Genl Burnham & Gen Carr our new Div. Genl. when I have not seen yet. I expect the horse tomorrow. Dont expect to get one worth over $1000. You understand I dont buy him but get the loan of him.
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