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Charles Morgan Coit papers

 Collection
Call Number: MS 1497

Scope and Contents

The Charles Morgan Coit Papers consist of correspondence written by Charles Morgan Coit to his mother, brother, and sister. The letters span his military career as adjutant, captain, and brevet lieutenant colonel in the Eighth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry from the fall of 1861 to the spring of 1865.

The letters deal with the daily tribulations faced by Coit and his regiment and cover such topics as living accommodations and sanitary conditions in various camps, the price and availability of food and clothing, weather and travel conditions, social life, morale, discipline, and descriptions of the skirmishes.

The papers were the gift of Charles A. Coit in 1989.

Dates

  • 1861-1870

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Received from Charles A. Coit, 1989.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.1497

Abstract

The papers consist of photocopies of letters written by Charles Morgan Coit to his mother, sister, and brother George during the Civil War. Also included are photocopies of letters written by George Coit to his mother and sister and a photocopy of a letter by Mary Coit.

Biographical / Historical

Charles Morgan Coit was born on March 29, 1838. He was secretary-treasurer of the Chelsea Savings Bank of Norwich, Connecticut when he was mustered into the army on October 5, 1861. A member of the Eighth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, Coit served as adjutant, captain, and later brevet lieutenant colonel. He fought in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Petersburg. Coit was wounded at Fair Oaks on October 29, 1864 and was mustered out of service on May 27, 1865. Coit married Mary Hillard and had two sons, Charles and Augustus. He died by drowning on July 3, 1878 off the New London, Connecticut coast while attempting to save the life of his younger son.

Title
Guide to the Charles Morgan Coit Papers
Status
Under Revision
Author
compiled by Carol King
Date
August 1989
Description rules
Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)

Location

Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours