Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.192 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: Newport News, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 February 1863 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Reports that morale has improved since leaving the muddiness of their former camp. The weather is "delightful" and he hopes that they will remain there for a few weeks. Reports that officers from the Nehant and the Galena, two ships that are anchored offshore, have introduced themselves and invited officers from the Regiment on board. Barry, his servant, has left for North Carolina.
would like two or three of my photographs. Barracks, Newport News, Feby. 10, '63 Dear All, As I sit down to write this evening I cannot find my pencil, Miss Woodhull's gift. I have carried it in my pocket sine leaving Norwich & prized it very highly, it was so light & handy. I fear it is lost, & I shall be very sorry if so & greatly surprised for I rarely loose any thing that I carry about my person. You cannot realize or imagine the change that has come over the Regt since leaving the Grand Army & the mud. All our work cleaning guns & equipments brushing clothes, &c and every one you meet has a smile on his face. we have quite comfortable quarters for the present & the idea of getting out of the Army of the Potomac & the mud & being (we hope) under Burnside again is most pleasing to us. We dont care much where we 90 if he only leads. Our present camp ground is dry & solid overlooking the James River which must be 4 or 5 miles wic:ie here. we can also look up the Elizabeth River (you know Newport News is nearly opposite the junction of the Elizabeth & James Rver) & down towards the Fortress. The Nehant (a monitor) & the Galena lie in the river abreast of us. Several of the officers of the latter have introduced themselves to some of our officers & have invited them aboard, promising to send their -gig - (small boat) for them . I hope I shall be fortunate enough to be of the company, the general impression is that we shall remain here for two or three weeeks & if so it will be truly a treat. The weather is delightful. So warm to day that at Battalion Drill to day it was almost too warm. Recd to day your letter of the 4th inst. & also the shoulder straps. They are quite pretty ones but not exactly such as I should have picked out. I always prefer the bullion work _perfectly plain_. I think it is neater and wears better. Every one that I have shown them to think them very handsome. I am going to have my coat (jacket) fitted over tomorrow by a tailor there is in the Regt who is first rate. At present it is "large enough for Garritt -" I do like it very much, it is so handy every where particularly on board boat as the tails are not always dragging in passing up & down stairs. Have I ever written that Barry has left me? when I returned to camp after my trip North I found that he was very desirous to return to No. Carolina, so I paid him off & got him a pass to Washington & he started but I doubt if he sees No. C. in a long time. while Lt. Goodrich is absent I have his boy. How sad & dreadful Joshua Harkin's death. Have heard nothing from the field glass tho' I hope to soon. This is a nice place to use it. Do write very often & dont fear to make them long. I shall write every few days. Think you might direct via Ft. Monroe. Your efft son & bro Chas. I must be mad if it is Sunday I folded the sheet I had just written & put my hand in my pocket for some envelopes that I put there just before starting - all directed & instead if finding them I found the letter that I wrote you the 6th inst from camp. Which I supposed I had sent by Geo. Pratt who passed us as we were marching down to the depot. I had it in my pocket & as he rode past I ran out & pulling it out of my pocket I sealed it without looking & then went back as happy as possible because I had had such an opportunity to send when I supposed all the letters sent by regular means would be held back & I thought that Mr. Pratt would mail mine at Washington & you would surely get it to day or Monday & now to think that I have sent nothing but - envelopes - is decidedly provoking. Fortunately I have an additional supply of envelopes all directed in my haversack. I now enclosed all the letters together but dont know when it will reach you & as I shall probably be obliged to hand it to some one on board one of the tugs that come to us, - it may never reach you. - Aint that last sentence worthy a true son of the Emerald Isle. Good bye
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