1862 October 25 Bakersville, Md.

Bakersville Maryland  Oct 25th 1862
Dear Father  --- I received yours of the eighteenth with the sad
news of Edwards Death, which I was in hopes of hearing of his recovery as most
of the letter that I have received was that he was nicely you say that he was
sensible to the last & spoke about my doing my duty which I am glad that he
he[sic] knew that I had done it but I wish I could have been at Home to see  him
before  his Death but being situated as I am I could not be there but if I had only
had known that we had been going into Winter quarters I should have tried
for A Furlough but I shall as it is as soon as we get paid off there is an order out
for Volunteers to join the regular Army to go into any Branch of it they may choose
they can join for the rest of the term of their enlistment or for three years & there
has been over fifty out of this Regiment that has signed it already  I had some
Idea of Joining the Cavelry for the rest of my enlistment then I thought I would
write to you before doing it & by the time I got a answer I would have time to
think it all over but I think I shall Join the Navy if I could get A chance Yester
day the Division was reviewed by General Brooks who has been assigned to take
command in place of General Slocum who has been assigned to take command
of the 12th Army Corps laitely under the Command of General Burnside the
Division feels bad about loseing General Slocum Capt Sherwood of Co F this
Regiment who returned to the Regiment yesterday came to see me as you wrote
in your letter informing me of your good health which I was glad to hear you
was looking nicely I am well & enjoying good heath as for the little Adjutant
that you spoke about I do not know where he is as I have only seen him once since
he left the regiment & that was when we first began to build winter quarters
on[sic] Camp Franklin last winter & for the old drummer I do not reccolect who
he is, those needles & thread I received, I will now close this by saying that this is
from A Son of yours who is always thinking of you & Mother and all at Home
Tell William that I would like to have him send me all of the Daily &
Weekly papers that he can    Joseph Leavitt

Letters of Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George Leavitt of the 5th New York were copied into a ledger by their father John in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of his sons, both of whom were mortally wounded,  George at 2nd Bull Run in 1862, and Joseph at Spotsylvania in 1864.

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