1863 February 10 across Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg

Camp Fifth Maine Volunteers Near Rapahannock River Va Feby 10th 1863
dear Father -- I now sit down to try & pen you A few lines in answer to
yours of the thirty first there is not much that I can think about Just now but that
General Frederick has been appointed to the command of this Corps in the place
of General Smith who I suppose will have command of the left grand division
the Ninth Army Corps has left this Army & gone down South further & it is repo
rted that they are going with General Burnside who is to have A command of A
expedition which if so I think it is A good thing as I think he is the right General
to appoint to command an expedition but as Commanding A larger Army such
as the Potomac one I do not think he is capable I hope that General McLellan
will visit Portland so you can see for yourselfe what kind of A Man that the
Potomac Army has such A great love for it you want to send anything to me
you can do so as Lieutenant Clarke & Waterhouse are at Home on A furlough
Lieutenant Clarke lives on the Corner of Spring & South Streets & Lieutenant
Waterhouse lives across Green Street Bridge Mother knows who he is as his Wife
called at the House with Mrs McPherson & as their furloughs are but for fifteen
days you better call at once & see wether they can fetch me anything that you
chose to send & when I get paid off again I am going to send you & Lizzie A Minature
to let you see if I have changed any I will close this by saying that my health is
good & hope that these few lines will find you & Mother & all the rest of the
folks the same From tour Son Joseph Leavitt
P.S. Tell Henry that I am much oblidged to him for the
Memorandum book & also four Transcripts.

[letters of Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine, and his brother George, of the 5th New York, were copied in a ledger by their father John in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of his sons, both of whom died in the war, George at Second Bull Run and Joseph at  Spotsylvania]

MSS 66