1862 July 30 Camp near Harrison's Landing, Va.

Camp Near Harrisons Landing Fa July 30th 1862

My Dear Mother--your letter of July 11th has been receivd it gives me pleasure to know that you are all well at Home since we have been here, I have received so many letters that I can scarcely find time to answer them all & have to do the best I can I have delayed answering yours for this reason, I had eight letters to answer which came all at one time three of them was from Father, I thought if I answered those of Fathers it would do for you both, untill I got some of the others off my hands we have been at work about all the time since we arrived at this place & have not the rest the papers talk about so much we may stop here sometime proberly untill fall although we may leave here at any  moment, there is A rumor that our Corps (Porters) are going to reinforce Pope if this should be true, it would suit the Boys first rate perhaps you think I talk wild when I say this army is loseing confidence in Genl. McClellans ability to end this next Campaign succesfully although the papers say he is Idolized by the men such is not the Fact, the men think more of Genl Heizleman than any other Genl  in the Army next to him comes Genl Kearny.  I hear Genl Heitzleman praise by every one. I honestly beleive that if he was made commander of this Army, it would be receivd with great delight, I may be mistaken but I think not, I see Joseph quite often as we are near together he looks in good health, you say you wish our grub was better, well if I have wished so once I have A hundred times  I want something that tastes good, I have sent home for A box, & I hope it will come the men have Just begun to recieve boxes from home yesterday two of my Friends received boxes with good things to eat & I had A feast for once if you can contrive to put something in that box it will be very acceptable I think I have eaten my peck of dirt, I think you would you would [sic] go without eating your dinner if you had such as we have sometimes & cooked in the same manner, I shall be glad when this war is ended & I am able to return Home to sit down to A good dinner once more. I think I could enjoy A good dinner first rate I can eat salt fish & taters now, once I would turn up my nose & say fish, neither would I grumble at corned beef & cabbage well what is the use I cant have these things but I think of them often it gives me pleasure to receive so many letters from home, it shows although I am Far away I am not forgotten, I am always impatient to receive my letters, if I dont receive four each week I imagine something is the matter with the folks at Home, I wish I was Just at there. I think I could get A commission in one of the regiments now forming, if there was any one at Home that would interest themselves about me, to A commission, I know that if four more Regiments are to be formed there is A good chance for A commission, but as there  is no one to interest themselves, why I shall have to remain A Private but stop I have been promoted only think I am A Corporal, I should like A commission in the 17th if possible to get one but if not in any of the Other Regiments hoping that this will find you enjoying good health, & that I shall again have the pleasure of seeing you all once more in Old Portland I remain
Your Son Geo W Leavitt


Letters from George W. Leavitt of the 5th New York and his brother Joseph of the 5th Maine were copied into a ledger by their father John in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of them.  Both boys died in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvaina


MSS 66