1862 December 20 Leavitt

Camp Near Fredericksburgh Va Dec 20th 1862

Dear Mother  -- I received your most welcome letter of the 14th to day
informing me of your & all the rest of the Folks Health & you cannont tell how
much A letter from Home is prized by A soldier without you see them when
they get them I am well & enjoying good health the Regiment was across the river
but not in the fight but was under the Enemys Fire four days & when the Fighting
was over on left & right, I do not know how it was that this division was taken from
the Corps & put in the Centre where there was A big swamp & I suppose that is the
reason that the Center did not Fight any, I will close these few lines by saying I
hope that this will find you all well, From you Son Joseph Leavitt
P.S.  The Paymaster is here & is paying the twenty sixth New York but there is A
report that he is only to pay two Regiments n the Brigade but I hope he will pay off
the whole Brigade & if he does I shall not forget to send Father some & I want him to
understand what I send him is given with A good will or else I should not send it

Letters of Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York were copied in a ledger book after the war by their father as a remembrance of his sons both of whom were killed in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania

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