Sunday, October 7, 2012

1862 October 8 Bakersville Maryland

Bakersville Maryland Oct 8th 1862

Dear Father--I received six letters last night from you
& Mother William & Henry yours Mothers & Williams of the 27th & 28th
& 29th Henrys of 28th with three Papers although I did not know as
I had not seen him since I was at Harrisons Landing but had been
past his Regiment A number of times since then but expected it was
so & that is the Reason that I wrote Home to you & I am that I can
write Home & relieve Mothers & Lizzes mind A little by letting them know
that he was Buried because I went this morning to the regiment which
is six miles from his town & they told me that he was buried decently
& that they missed him A great deal, I ment to have asked them more
but I felt so I could not but it is A Great consolation to me as I know as it
is with you all at Home that he was Buried decently, & as Edward sent
word that he should see me again at Home  (or as Jos wrote it) & as
Edward said something about seeing me at Home, although I should
like to see  him well enough, but Just remind him that I expect that
there will be more Fighting, but if there is & this Corps is engaged I
shall do my duty, let what will come tell him I am glad to hear that
he is getting better & hope that he will get so that he can attend to
his Business again & that I Hope that I shall see this war at A close
so we can live in peace & harmony again you do not understand you
say about paying for the State clothing as some of the men had sent
home some of their last payment now when I wrote that to you I ment the Payment
that comes off this month I think within A week & as for the other Payment
that you mean I kept the whole of that & I did not use it Foolishly as I think you
think I did will you not believe me, I hope you have better confidence in me
I will never give you cause to say that I do not care anything about you I
realize how you are situated & shall send you money & what I sent was given
willingly & shall continue helping you all I can & if I ever come out of the
service I shall try & help you the same now Father have confidence & if
I do come Home safe you will find A Change & instead of Army making
me worse you will find a Truer, Tell Mother I know that she has A
great deal on her mind but I hope she can stand it, when you write
again put A sheet of Paper inside
                      From you Son
                                                Joseph Leavitt

[Letter from Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine, about the death of his Brother George of the 5th New York in the Battle of 2nd Bull Run.  Letters of both George & Joseph were copied into a ledger in the fall of 1865 by their father John as a remembrance of them.  Joseph also died in the war in the 1864 battle of Spotsylvaina]

MSS 66

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