1862 April 3 Hampton, Va.

Camp near Hampton Virginia April 3d 1862

My Dear Father my last to you was dated at Baltimore
we received Marching orders on the twenty eighth march we
left Baltimore Sunday 30th although it was A stormy day there was
A tremendous Crowd of People to witness departure, as we
entered Warren street we found it lined with People, & all along
the line of march we were cheered but the grandest sight was at the
dock at which the Steamer P.R. Spalding was waiting for us it was
along all the docks in the vacinety, we left the dock among the cheers of
the vast Crowd i tell you it was something to be proud of there never
was A Regiment so popular with the citizens of Baltimore even there
own Regiments never attracted one quarter of the attention, we arrived
at Fortress Monroe about nine oclock Monday 31st March but did
not debark until twelve as we were obliged to waite our turn there
being some eight or ten Transports landing troops there is A tremendious
Fleet of Transports in Hampton Rhoades. I shall have to make this letter
short as we move again to day, we are now encamped about four miles
from Hampton the town of Hampton is completely destroyed not
one House was left standing, you will be surprised when I tell you
that our Regiment is in the grand Army under Gen. McL4llan the
Army of the Potomac has been transfered to this quarter we are in
Genl Sykes Brigade (Regulars) we are the reserve, it is nothing by\ut
one vast camp from Fort Munroe to Big Bethel, I wish you to write
as soon as you receive this & let me know what division Y Brigade
Joseph is in he is here somewhere, there is nothing but Soldiers here
Virginia is paying dear for her sin such A scene of desolation I
never saw before since we have been encamped here there has passed
about fifteen batteries of Artilery & they are continually arriving you
can guess what all this means, I shall have to bring this to A close as
I must get my things ready for A move I will write you at every encamp
ment hoping this will find you in good health I remain your son
George W. Leavitt
direct to fifth New York Volunteers Genl. Sykes Brigade
Fortress Monroe.


Letters from George Leavitt and his brother Joseph Leavitt 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.

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