Light House Point Va
		July 21st 1864

     Dear Father:
	             Although it has been
but a day or two since I wrote Nell.
I have again seated myself to pen
you a few lines: I have nothing
of importance to write and my only
object in doing so is to send you
a receipt for Sixty Dolls. from the
Adam's Express Co. which I recd
from them this morning. I presume
you will receive this letter by the
time the money reaches Buchanan
          the money
and if  ^ it should not reach there
by the last of this month please re-
mail the receipt to me that
I may make such statement as.
may be necessary and present
both at the Express Office

The company never receive the
charges here and I hope you keep
an account of what you pay out
on receiving the money there.
     There has nothing occurred since
I wrote Nell that would be of
any interest.. The rain storm
of which I spoke lasted about
twenty hours and was truly a bless
ing. The weather has been nearly
as hot as ever. since then and
the dust is beginning to get some
what troublesome again. A review
and inspection of the entire division
is being held today. Last summer
I should have predicted a move
had such a thing occurred. but every
thing is so changed that one can
not tell anything by old signs 
any more: Gen. Grant has
thoroughly altered the army
in every respect.

     As I was returning from
City Point this morning I
met Major Gen. Burnside going
I suppose to make a visit to
Gen. Grant.. He was riding in
a light two horse. covered. carriage
with his aids and orderlies riding
behind on horseback. He appeared
to be a much larger man than
I ever imagined him to be and
not a very prepossessing looking
person either.. Gen. Custer is by far
a much smarter looking man
than him
	I have noticed several
large transports going up the river
to City Point loaded with troops. but
whether they are any of those sent
to Maryland and now returning
is more than I can say. Last night's
papers brought us “Uncle Abe's”
call for 500,000 more men

     I hardly know whether to
rejoice or feel otherwise at this news
These calls have been made repeatedly
for the past three years and always
just after they were really needed..
What is the reason of it: Just think,
of the number of men that have com
posed our army during the past three
years and where are they now and
how much easier can the war be crushed
now than it could three years ago today
500,000 men at the battle of Bull Run
three years ago today would have put
an everlasting [quietus?] on the “Southern
Confederacy” and they might have been
had for the asking. Who is to be blamed
for all this. Of course every one will say
the military commanders. or the war
department. This may be true; but are Old
Abe's skirts fully clear from all blame.
Has he shown himself fully competent
to rule the nation and carry on this
war successfully enough to deserve at 
the hands of the people a continuance
of his place for the coming four years.
    I sometimes think that he considers
this war too big a joke to fully realize
all he has on his hands. But perhaps
I dont know anything about it: I'm
only a soldier. I wish you would write
oftener.	Your Son E R Havens