1861 Sept[ember] 21 Camp Vernon, Va.

Dear Father I received a Letter from you & one from Mother enclosed in yours dated the 17th And was glad to hear that you received Those three Minature Portraits Camp Vernon is situated Just the First Hill above Hunters creek you can look on the Map & see where that is the reason that John Shaw does not know whether i was to Bulls run the reason is that he was not there himself i was there & started from Centerville with the Army and i went all of the way & went on the Battle Field & Fired six rounds of at them & then Col. Dunnells Gave us the order to retreat but I did not retreat at the order because i saw that Capt Sherwood was shot And i went & helped take him off & he was not the only one that i help take there was one of the Zouaves i help take off the Field & that was when the Army was retreating and when i starting from on the retreat after i help carry them off i had to Cross a stream of Water which was up to my neck and on that retreat of Forty Miles we only got one hours sleep & that was at Fairfax & then have to start right off whe came from there in one day but whe where Four or Five days going there and out the second night it was raining and whe had to lay on the damp ground and when whe waked up & find ourselves all wet through that is the first fight that i was ever in But if they have one this side i shall be in it i know what it is But it is a hard sight to see so many men Laying streched out Bleeding in their own blood & legs smashed & arms a & Body & hear their grones our Company & the Brismarck Company had the hardest site to come off because we are the colour Guard But they come of all Right but all the other Maine Regiments lost theirs or had them broke our Regiment was the last one to go on the Field & you will see that we had the most chance to retreat From your son Joseph Leavitt P. S. that is a true likeness of Genl. McLellan

Letters of Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine were copied into a letterbook by his father after his death in 1864

George P. Sherwood was Captain of Co. Fifth Maine
Mark H. Dunnell was Colonel of the Fifth Maine

MSS 66