Sunday, June 10, 2012

1862 June 10 Mechanicsville, Va.

Mechanicsville, Va., June 10th  1862  Dear Father--The last
letter that I received from you was dated the 26th of last month We
was Paid off last week & the Paymaster took a Package maide up by
the Company which amounted to fifteen hundred dollars which he takes
to Washington & from there he sends it to the care of Mr. Harris that keeps
on the corner of exchange and  Middle Street He is the Brother of the first
Lieutenant of this Company last Sunday I was over to the Fifth of New
York regiment & saw brother George & I found him well he said the last letter
that he received from you was dated the thirtyeth we came up from Picket this
Morning from the woods that line the banks of the Chickahominy and on the
other side which is no further than thirty yards Lays the Pickets of the enemy
We brought in this morning into camp A Man that belongs to A Virgi
nia Battery He said that the Enemy were evacuating Richmond
& that Jeff Davis had run away among the Prisoners is A North Carolinian
who said that he had his choice to enlist for three months service But after
he had served his three months he found that there was no way of  his
getting out & rather as he said than stay there he deserted & came into our
lines he said that he never was on their side but he was pressed into it
but he thought our side would win. P.S. there is no way that I can get
Postage stamps without paying six cents Apiece & rather than do that
I wish you would send one dollars worth of stamps & if you receive that
fifteen dollars send me word & I want to know whether 5142 is the number
of Mr Stevens box, George has not got paid off yet but expects to be in two
or three days & he said that he should send it to Lizzy give my love to all
I am well & hope this will find you & all the rest the same I want you
to know that I can keep my promise by sending you the fifteen dollars
I have not received but one paper from you for some time & I wish you would
send them to me, as soon as this month is out I shall have two months pay
belonging to me & I shall send the same amount that I have this time
but I hope that I shall be in Richmond before that time comes off Tell
Henry & William to write.

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

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