1861 Sept[ember] 22 [Camp Vernon]

Dear Sister I thought i would write you a few lines but i cannot think of think of much to write without it is something i have written before to night it is raining Hard we had some Indiarubber Blanketts sent to us by the State of Maine & such a Night as this we need them Whe are gone to have some Hats they are gone to be Like the New york regiments that are in this Brigade & whe are gone to have some new Guns Soon i had two pieces of the Flag that Elsworth took of the Marchal House I was gone to send a piece of it to you & the other for Mother but i lost both peaces, the Enemy is Building another Fort about a quarter of a mile from where whe are encamp i think they are Building them so that they can Fall Back into if they have to retreat Before they get it done, Because some Morning they will Be surprised by having some shells Poured in to them whe have beans two or three times a week & the way whe Bake them is this We Dig a hole about three feet square & two deep & then build A fire in it, in the Morning & keep it so untill it burns up the coals & then take the pots of beans & place them on the coles & cover the dirt over them and i tell you they are worth having Ben spying this Afternoon at the Rebels & see them Build their Forts i can see them Plaine from Camp they have got some of the teams that went to Bulls Run with us and they are useing them to haul dirt with you Must excuse this letter Because i cannot write any thing that is new I Hope that you are well and the Children From your Brother
Joseph Leavitt

Soldier in the 5th Maine. After his death in 1864 his father copied all his letters into a copybook for preservation.

Leavitt was not the only member of the 5th Maine to cut himself some souvenirs from the Marshall House to send the folks back home. See the letter of Hiram Cash of August 15, and the thanks from "Ella" on September 8.

MSS 66