1861 September 14

Dear Mother I thought i would write you a few lines as I have nothing else to do Yesterday we moved where we are building the Forts about a quarter of a mile from the old Camp Ground & it is the Best peace of Ground that we ever Camped on the field Being all clover whe have built an entrenchment about a mile Long for the Riflemen to protect themselves by[.] yesterday when i was in Alexandria i bought envelopes & Stamps & paper enough to Post a Long time tell McFearson's Wife that he sends his love to her and the Children & hopes that they are well we heard from one of the numbers of the Company yesterday that whe thought was killed at Bulls Run he is A prisoner in Richmond his name is Edgar [Edward?] Clarke of Portland & by that there was not any kill in the Company when you write again Let me know Whether William went to Mr Clarkes House to tell him that Edward was taken When he was on picket the Lieutenant Colonel of this Regiment & the Major has resigned they say that they never stand still & see a Colonel of another Regiment come in & take the place that he ought to have & not have anything to say, when he resigned there was a great crowd around the tent & such cheering they came out of their tents And Made some speeches & told the boys that they never would be ruled by a Colonel of another Regiment Colonel Jackson is nothing but a fancy Officer & when he took command of this Regiment he did not get hold of the First he cannot handle them as nice as he handled them you need not be trouble about me about doing anything but he got hold of A hard regiment to take care of From your Son Joseph Leavitt.

Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine

MSS 66