1862 January 10 Camp Franklin near Alaxandria

Dear Mother A[s] I have not written to you for some time as all of my
letters have been written to Father I thought I would try to write you what little news that I know about. last night I received A Letter From Father & one from Ellen Fathers was dated the 3d. yesterday there was three that Returned from Richmond that was taken Prisoners at the Battle of Bulls run I could not find out thier names they was exchanged yesterday there was and[sic] attempt to blow up the Hospital in Alaxandria when there was four hundred Sick Soldiers by pacing A barrell of powder & there was A fuse found extended from it but it was lucky the Guard found it out which if he had not found it out they might blown it up & four hundred lives lost there is talk that this Division & Porters is going to Annopolis I can cant write anymore but tell me wether Father gets the allotment money & remember that Five is for you & dont say our J does not think anything of you because he dont send any money I tell you I do think of you I will put A picture in here for Johny I am well & never was better & hope this will find you the same with all of the Family From your Son Joseph Leavitt. There is reports going round Portland that George W. Martin did not do his duty whilst he was Lieutenant of the company so he wrote A letter to one of the Company & wanted h8im to get the Boys to sign their names to a paper so he can show which I am glad every member has signed, it is one thing he went to Bulls Run whilst he was Lame & that is more that any any]sic] other Officer can say the hold[sic] truth he had to do the hold of the work he was the best Officer this company ever had.

Letters from Joseph Leavitt and his brother George Leavitt of Portland, Maine, 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