No 4th    

			Camp Kellogg
			   Grand Rapids Oct 9, 1862

     Dear Father and Mother
			       Your welcome
letter was received, together with Nells last
evening and I hasten to answer it
this morning, that I may if possible
allay your fears concerning myself
which the reports of John Hamilton
have raised.
	As to my having been unable
to duty since I came here, I have never
yet been once excused from duty.
    At the time that Newton Sparks
wrote to Kate, I was seized in the mor
ning with quite a severe diarrhea and
refused to eat any breakfast. It ran me
about three hours, but by a prompt use of
my medicine I soon checked it and have
not been obliged to take but one or two doses
					since

         I can not conceive what ever
induced Hamilton to tell what he did
  I have never wished to deceive you in
any manner concerning my health.
  I have felt better and stronger since
I have been here than I have for many
months before. I had a severe cold in
my head when I left home as you
well know. I soon recovered from that
since I came here and have not taken
any since. I have lain out on the
ground all the evening many even
ings since I have been here, slept
in the upper bunks of our barracks
where there is at all times a strong
current of air circulating, and a
good many times there have been
severe showers and it has leaked at
the head and foot of our bunk, wetting
the blankets, and all the time I have
been flattering myself and boasting
to the other boys that I was growing
fat and healthy every day.

	We are living very well at present
and I see no good reason why we should
not so long as we stay here. We have
to go out of camp about 100 rods to wash
			          a
and eat. We only wash once ^ day
however. Our meats are generally
well cooked and consist of good,
wholesome materials.
           We have not yet been mustered
in and perhaps are not so near to it 
as when I wrote you before. Some of the
boys are anxious to muster, others are
not. So far as I am concerned I am
ready at any time. Most of the boys
are getting rather short of funds and
would like to receive their pay. We
				      ed
may not get our pay as soon as muster
But it will make little difference as
we can sell our pay rolls for a
slight share and thus obtain funds.
        We have at present 70 men in 
our company on the ground and
expect 10 more here to night.

   Father spoke of Mr Jarvis coming
here. As he probably got here last night
we may see him today. I wish Father
could have come with him then he could
have satisfied himself concerning me.
            Parson Brownlow spoke here
on Tuesday afternoon and drew out
the largest crown that I ever saw.
	All of the men in our camp who
were not on guard were marched down
there in cornfields [?] in ranks of four,
making a procession about half a mile
long.  I did not have a chance to hear
all of his speech as the captain sent me
to look up and keep track of the other
men.  His speech was published
in one of the City papers and if possible
I will send you one of them. But the Capt
is calling fall in for drill and I must
stop. I will answer Nells to day if
possible. Please write again soon.

          Your affectionate Son
			Edwin R Havens