Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.311 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 August 1864 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes from camp Bermuda that they have moved to a new camp. Colonel Ward is still is poor health and has requested a leave of absence. He writes of treating a "chill" with whiskey and thrashing his arms. He asks to borrow money as they have not been paid yet.
Hd. Qts. 8th C.V. I. Camp - Bermuda 100 - Augt 28
Dear All,
Another Sabbath & we are all hard at work fixing up our new Camp at this place. Yesterday our Brigade, the last of our corps, was relieved by the 10th corps & we marched here & now occupy ground lately held by that Corps. Oh what a relief it is to get away from the constant firing that we had become so accustomed to at Petersburg. It seems ^that until to day I had supposed that I had ceased to notice it truly like Sunday excepting the constant pounding of the men as they build bunks &c. we occupy on old camp ground on a fine dry flat of land & find nice arbors built under which we pitch our tents. Arbors are built the whole length of the Company streets & every tent in camp will have a good shade over it. Col. Ward lies on his back in the next tent, he this morning applied for a leave of absence on surgeon's certificate. week before last he was offered command of a Brigade when he suddenly recovered his health & in two or three days reported for duty but by that time another had been put in command of the Brigade & he immediately went to the rear again sick. I do not think he really is well & perhaps he might command a Brigade when he could not bear the exposure of life in the pits. Last week I had my first real chill & I thought the Ague had caught me at last. I had my flask of whiskey with me and I drank as deeply of that as - I dared to- for I'd rather heve fever & ague than be tight - and then I walked round & thrashed my arms until I got warm & I really think I threw the chill off in that way & thus saved the Hospital one patient. we have had more or less rain almost every day for the last fortnight & frequently been completely drenched & until last night we had not had a decent night's rest during the same time & with every body else I was about played & could not have borne it many days longer but I think a quiet week or two here will do wonders for us all. Our whole Corps is here for the purpose of recruiting not numbers but health ± strength which latter has I think been severely taxed by life in the pits than that of the other Corps. Now can you spare me a little more money. I think without doubt we shall be paid off within a month but in the mean time I am without any thing & I need a new hat & several lesser articles besides commissary stores. The hat I now wear is decided an old hat I bought it at Fredericksburg December - 1862-. I think its a week to day since I last wrote you. I try to write oftener here. Sorry George should have lost any part of his delightful tour west. Would like him to send me the clothing "Return" & "Receipt Roll" as soon as convenient. The Return is numbered 51 & the Roll 52. Best love to every body. I going to lie down & read the Independent. Your Affct son Chas-
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