Thursday, April 19, 2012

1862 April 20 Ship Point Near the York River

Ship Point Near the York River April 20th 1862

Dear Father--We started from Camp Franklin last Thursday &
arrived here this morning after being on the water ever since Thursday last
night we laid out & off Fortress Munroe, the name of the boat that we are in is
the John rogers we have not landed yet only the Cooks & they are to cook five days
rations & then we are to go up the York 'river with the Guns Boats for
protection from the Rebel batteries I will now close, I only want
to let you know where we are answerright away From you Son
Joseph Leavitt, direct the same untill I write again


Letters from Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George Leavittof 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

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