Monday, August 6, 2012

1862 August 7 Harrison's Landing Va.

Camp Near Harrisons Landing Va August 7th 1862

Dear Brother--your of 23 July is received & contents noted, you seem to think that I dont
answer your letters as often as I should & that I write to others & not to you you say that
I have written to three or four other Persons since I received yours, now you dont consider
wether those persons were entitled to answers before you or not when I received your letter.  I had
six to answer which I had received long before yours came to hand, first Come first
served you know now dont let me hear any more about writing, unless I answer yours oftener
you I suppose have been reading the papers & see A great deal about the Army of the Potomac
resting now that is all on paper as for the actual rest I dont see it now we have something
to do all the time & when we get up in the morning we expect every moment to be put on detail
wether you wish to or not, if you dont like to go to the Office are not oblidged to go if I chosed I
should occupy all my time in writing about our hard fate but as that would not be interesting
to you I will write, you no doubt look for news but will find little in my letter we have to wait for
the papers to find out what is going on arround us, you wish to know if we beat the Rebels in the
Battle before Richmond, yes everytime but why did we retreat that question I am unable to answer
it may come out by & by our Regiment numbers about four hundred & fifty, only one Officer killed Capt
Patridge (Co I) none of the Field or staff were touched the seige guns were all boot off the Field
with the exception of one 32 pounder the siege guns are under the charge of the first Connec
icut which is one of the best Regiments in the service they will take care of the siege guns
this Regiment was in the battle of Big Bethel and was the only Regiment that stood its ground
that is where they got the name of red legged Devils this name was given to the Regiment
by Magrauders History is right on that point but the stories about taking batteries is not true
as the troops were forced or ordered to Retreat, I notice what you say about the Richmond
of Portland they are mean, as long as you have plenty they will let you have what you want
but if you show any signs of caring they will help you care still for all that Portland is the
place for me that is after I get money enough to live without any ones help I should like to be in
Portland Just at this time & take A trip to the Islands I think I should enjoy it, I see by the papers
that the new Hotel on Chusings Island has opened for the season if you know any thing about it
Just give me the description of it let me know how it looks is the cottage opened & who has charge of it this
sumer let me know what new buildings has been built since I left Home & all about matters & things in
general does Coe & Frank Covil still keep under the Preble House does Knight & Greenough, Ingersol
Cole Stearns & all the rest sill keep in their old places, I should like to be counting sugar
boxes & hhd shooks instead of drilling I used to think I had A rough time when
I was in Portland, but I have seen some hard times since I have been out here
which put that in the shade, I suppose you think you have A hard time
you dont know what hard work is yet well I hope you will neve[r] know what
it is to be A slave that is Just what we are slaves & treated ten times worse
than they are, well I hope this war will end soon it should have ended
long ago, hoping that it will not be many months before I return Home in good
health & find you all prospering.  I will bring this to A close from your Brother
                                                      George W. Leavitt

Letters from George Leavitt of the 5th New York and his brother Joseph of the 5th Maine were copied in a ledger by their father John in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of the boys both of whom were mortally wounded in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania

MSS 66

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.