Charles Coit to his family, with more details regarding the outcome of the battle - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC03603.145
From Archive Folder	Collection of Charles M. Coit, field and staff, 8th regiment, Connecticut, infantry
Title	Charles Coit to his family, with more details regarding the outcome of the battle
Date	19 September 1862
Author	Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878)
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	Writes more about the outcome of the battle. The regiment has guarded a bridge most of the day while the rebel soldiers have possession of the battlefield. Some of the dead and wounded Union troops are still in the field but cannot be retrieved. Counts that there are 19 or 20 dead and wounded from the 8th Regiment. Lieutenant Wait's body was later recovered from the field. His watch and other possessions had been stolen.
Subjects	Civil War Military History Union Forces Infantry Union Soldier's Letter Soldier's Letter Injury or Wound Battle Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) Confederate States of America Death Clothing and Accessories
People	Coit, Charles M. (1838-1878)
Place written	Sharpsburg, Maryland
Theme	The American Civil War; Health & Medicine
Sub-collection	Papers and Images of the American Civil War
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945
Civil War: Theater of War	Main Eastern Theater
Civil War: Unit	8th Regiment, Connecticut, infantry
Transcript	Show/hide Report of Co B 8th Ct - Near Sharpsburg Md 19th Dear All I wrote yesterday & dated that letter the 19th I think the date of this is correct. We lay in a ravine all yesterday guarding a bridge - a portion of the battle field of the day before we are still in the same position in the ravine but expecting orders to move. The enemy I think have retreated. I hope across the Potomac we can see, from a hill near us, our troops occupying our (the 8th) battle field which was the farthest in advance. Our dead & a few of our wounded have been on the field in possession of the rebels or between the pickets of the two armies so that we could not get to them. They will have attention to day but it will be too late for many a brave fellow. Lt. Eaton's wound is so slight as to be simply ridiculous - so the boys say who have seen it. Lt. Shepard was wounded by a buck shot through the fleshy part of the leg below the knee I understand tho' I cannot find where he is, but I am very certain he is safe & I hear with the baggage in the rear. Capt Griswold of the 11th is mortally wounded & probably dead before this time. Forrest spafford of Co. D (8th) has his arm shattered. My loss is (Co B) 19 or twenty killed & wounded. We are off. We shall not be called into action at present I have no Idea I think we shall go somewhere & recruit. Love Chas On the battle ground - Noon - Lt. Wait is dead & his body was found robbed of watch &c pockets turned inside out. His body will be embalmed & sent home. Lt. Shepard is in a house here & doing nicely & talking about a furlough.

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