1862 May 6 Camp Winfield Scott near Yorktown

Camp Winfield Scott Near Yorktown  May 6th 1862

My Dear Father yours of April 30th is received & as I have plenty of time
I will answer it, my last letter from you dated at Cheeseman Landing was
rather short I had to close it for the reason I could not write under the
circumstances of course when we received the news of the evacuation of York
town we were pretty much excited & could not sit down to write A letter
the Rebels evacuated Yorktown early Sunday morning the Berdan sharp
shooters saw the Pickett being drawn in, mistrusted something was going
on, they crawled up close to the Fortifications & looked in & found that
the bird had flown the Rebels left behind A large quantity of flour &
provisions of all kinds also all their Tents clothing & all their amunition
for their big guns they left notices saying if we would follow them where our
gunboats could not reach them they would Fight us, I have just learned
that Richmond is captured & that Magruder has unconditionly surrendered
whether it is so I am not able to say if such is the case the Rebel Government have
received a tremendous blow, & it leaves Beauregard alone to fight, if however the
Rebels have only evacuated these place to fly into the interior, where we will
have to follow them it will only seem to prolong the war, the Army which was
at Yorktown we have divided  & hemed them in so there is no chance for an
escape you will think of course that I can give you all the particulars
but we here although within A short distance of Yorktown have got to wait
for the papers before we know the details of the evacuation, Sunday morning
Co F was detailed as usual to unload ordinance the company had just commenced
when Major Hall received the following dispatch Major Hall and no more
Yorktown is evacuated our troops occupy the town signed Major Barry chief
of Artillery as I said before it has turned out just as I expected it would for
this reason I believe they have means of gaining information which we know not
of and are acquainted with all of our movements they found they could not
make A successful stand against such odds & thought it prudent to evacuate
they were however cut off yesterday they made A stand and had A fight which
lasted all day & most all night we have orders to be ready to move at any moment
but not called on we are now under orders & are liable to be called  on
any moment Genl. Franklins Division is in the rear between Richmond &
Williamsburgh our troops have driven them beyond Williamsburgh about five
miles I am waiting for the paper to come up so that I can find out more
more[sic] particular the wether is getting quite warm hopeing you will have the
pleasure of seeing me in Portland soon I remain you son George W. Leavitt
P.S. I saw Joseph Friday he looks first rate & says his health is good.

Letters from George Leavitt of the 5th New York and his brother Joseph of the 5th 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