1861 December 17 Camp Franklin near St Johns Seminary Alaxandria Va

Dear Mother Yesterday Mister Staples called to see me & I can
tell you that I was verry glad to see one of the Neighbours & hear that
al the Folks were as well as when I left them & I hope your health will
continue so, The mittens that you sent to me by him fit me first rate
I was gone to write to you to have you make A pair for me they have been
making up A paper that is called the alotment Roll which I have signed
Fifteen dollars which will be paid to the Treasurer department with
Fathers name signed to it, I do not know wether they will send it to the
House or advertise it in the Paper bit I think it will be sent to the
House so if they advertise it in the Paper Father will know
that it is for him if it goes right, the next payment I shall sign it so that
he can have it every payment I have not heard from George since he
has return to Baltimore but I have written to him give my love to
Lizzie & tell her that I would like to have her to write to me I sent some old
letters Home by Mr. Staples & I think that I put all my stamp Envelopes
with them I cannot find them nor can I buy any more out here and
if you are A mind to you may tell William to send me A dollars worth
& tell him I dont think it will break him to send that amount I
want him to send them in yours or Fathers next one to me for
if he dont I shall have to go without writing remember to tell him
to send A dollars worth from your Son
Joseph Leavitt

Letters from Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George Leavitt of the 5th New York were copied into a ledger by their father John Leavitt in October 1865: "because they are of value to me and I was fearful that they might get mislaid." Both boys were mortally wounded in the war, George at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862, and Joseph at Spotsylvania, May 18, 1864.

MSS 66