1862 March 1 St. John's Seminary, Alexandria, Va.

Head Quarters Fifth Maine Regiment near St Johns Seminary Alaxandria Va March 1st 1862 Dear Father As I have just received A letter [from] William dated Feb 26th in which he said they did not expect William Banks to live which I was sorry to hear it was no longer than last Monday that there was A member of this Company by the name of Turner he was buried he was liked by all of the Company this makes the second death that has occured since we left Portland it has cleared up & all the mud has dried up & we have been under Marching orders ever since day before yesterday the Regiment has gone on Picket & have their knapsacks packed ready for A March this & Company H & F is stopping in doing Camp duty they say that we are to March for Centerville next Monday & Mayby by the time you get this we may be marching for that place I am ready for the March & never could be in better health for the work, which I suppose you will be glad to hear we are not to be allowed to carry anything more thn shirt & drawers & one Rubber Blankett & one wollen which I am glad, Tell Johny I got his letter, I had given up writing to you and should not if I had not received any from William Because I had not received any from you it is getting time to turn in so I must close my letter by saying that I want you to answer this as soon as you get it & if we have to March I will write & let you know give my Love to Mother & all of the Folks especially Mary Wallace From Your Son Joseph Leavitt


Letters from Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York were copied into a ledger by their father John Leavitt in October 1865 "because they are of value to me and I was fearful that they might get mislaid." Both boys were mortally wounded in the war, George at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862, and Joseph at Spotsylvania, May 18, 1864.

MSS 66