Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) to his family
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03603.090 Author/Creator: Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 March1862 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Describes boarding "the Sentinel" and rowing to Newbern [North Carolina] to eat dinner at a hotel. Gives the death toll of the last battle as two dead and four wounded.
on board "sentinel" at anchor near Newbern Mar. 20. We came aboard about half past five last evening after standing at the landing all day long waiting for transportation. The four Co's which are on the "Chasseur" embarked several hours earlier & the boat did not return to take us, (the other six Co's.) until evening. We were ordered down from our barracks at half past eight A.M. & informed that the boats were waiting for us & that we should embark immediately. Perhaps it was not tedious waiting all this time with nothing to eat, fortunately the day was fine & warm and like all things else it had an end. When we reached the "sentinel" as we were rather hungry, & could get nothing for supper except coffee & hard bread, some one proposed that we row up to the city & get a meal at the hotel. so we consulted the captain & finding it was too late to start down the river among the spikes &c with which the channel is obstructed, we decided to go. At the hotel we found supper would not be ready for an hour so I had a little time to survey the town & I improved it but there is not much to be seen - some good buildings but mostly low & wooden. I did not see the roses that others have seen & it certainly is not time for them even here. I saw several early plants in bloom. Had a pretty good supper, best we have had lately but hardly up to a New England hotel meal, and started in a hard rain for this boat, we were without overcoats. it was dark as pitch & we were soaked thro' before marching home. Charlie & Eastman has gone by road with the horse & is to meet us at our landing fifteen miles below here, so our march will be but twenty miles & I hope this weather will clear up before we land. if so with my "secesh" horse the march will not be very tedious. Johnson is going home by next steamer, he has the rumatism & can not go with us, did not know it in [illegible] to send anything. My last letter was dated wrong. should have been 18th & 19th instead of 17th & 18th The boat is going ashore & I must close. A large portion of Newburn is deserted & houses closed up. There are a few stores open but it looks dreary enough. Our whole loss in the battle of 14th is but one killed & five wounded including Capt Upham. one man will certainly die. so we have really two killed & four wounded. Must close. Am well. Love Love Love from your aff son & bro Chas
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