Camp 7th Mich Cav
	Near Kettle River Va.
	     Thursday May 21st /65
Brother Nell.
	       Your most welcome
letter of May 14 came to hand this
morning and having nothing
apparent to do at present I have
seated myself to answer it..
I received yours of May 10th
some days since but have forgotten
whether I have answered it or
not. If not this will I hope be 
accepted as an answer to both..
I have been busy ever since
last Friday answering letters
			 that kind
and squaring up my debts.. of.^
which I contacted a good many
during the busy times of the past 
forty days.. Since Sunday we
have been on no duty what

ever. as we have five regiments
here and each does the picket
duty in succession. A part
of our regt goes onduty this
afternoon. but I think our Co..
will not be called upon..
I have written one or two let
ters each day this week. and
now I am two or three behind
    I think I have now received
all of your letters. and have
recovered from the feeling that
perhaps you had grown tired
of hearing from me. One reason
that I did not receive your
letters was because that for
several days we received no 
mail whatever..
     We moved to this place
from Warrenton Junction on
Saturday afternoon and pitched
our camp on the north side

      of Kettle Run.. which is
a beautiful little stream of
nearly the size of Dowagiac
River creek.. Our division now
here comprises the 1st Va. 1st Vt.
2nd Penn. 5th N.Y. cav and
our regiment under command
of Col O DeForrest of the 5th N Y
act. Brig Genl Nothing of interest
in the line of warfare has oc-
curred since we came here..
I presume we shall leave here in
a few days as we scarcely re
main in one camp more than
a week.. but where we shall go
I can not conjecture.. It was
reported in a late paper that all
troops on detached service in
and around Washington. and
along this line of Railroad
would be sent to Genl Hooker
and their places supplied

by Pennsylvania Militia
whose services have been ten
dered by the Gov. of that state..
Good joke on us.” But then
I think I shall enjoy it
if true.. Our 1st Sergt for fun
last night told some of the boys
that we were going to New 
Orleans next week.. I dont
know but I should like
it if we could be sent there
and get near the 6th Inf..
By the way I wish you 
would tell me how you direct
a letter to John Cowles. as I
have not heard a word from
him since we left Lee Barracks
and would really like to 
hear from him..
   It is very warm weather
and we have scarcely a 
breath of air during the day

     The evenings are beautiful
and last evening we had a
“Social.” That sounds queer
and I doubt not you think
it slightly [mixed?]. But it is
so nevertheless.. Our Co.. was
sitting around our fire. singing
telling stories. and cracking jokes
at each others expense. having
a good time generally until the
bugle sounded the tattoo..
Just then an “orderly” came
from headquarters and reques
ted the 1st and 2nd Sergts of Co
A to report themselves there “right
smart..” Sergt Holton called
me and together we started..
    But arriving there we found
that a mistake had been made
as I was not the 2nd Sergt intend
ed by Sergt Cooke our Quarter

master Sergt. But I was invi
ted to remain and did so..
    The guests were Capt Walker
Lieut. Briggs.. (our Briggs) Capt
Willet of Co E. Lieut Holmes of C E..
Lieut Littlefield of the Guard of
Honor. Sergts. Holton. Cooke and
M myself.. The entertainment
was singing. as all of them ex
cept me were all singers. and
we enjoyed ourselves for an hour
or two in singing patriotic. sen
timental and comic songs..
     Tell us soldiers dont have
any fun?.. I'll bet that we 
have more fun now than you
do.. I never enjoyed myself
better in my life than I do 
now.
     I received a letter from N. Stephens
Tuesday dated May 11th.. He was
well at that time and still at
Franklin Tenn.. He said that


     Harrison Barnhouse had joined
the company a few days before. and
was then acting first Sergt .. I had
in my last letter asked him to tell
me what his rank was. in order.
to satisfy a long. disputed question
among us.. He answered that he was
now 2nd Lieut He said that a few
days before. they made a dash upon the
camp of the 9th Texas Rangers. found
them in bed (it was just daylight)
captured 132. men and several horses
and mules. without loss.. Still later
they made a dash upon another camp
of about 300.. He said that they “dusted” 
to the tune of “forward! right smart!
git!” without causing the Union men
any loss whatever.. That's the
kind of business I like to see
done. and wish we could be doing
some of it..

    Old Moseby keeps from
35 to a hundred men near our
lines all the time with perfect
impunity.. He does not do us
any damage. as our forces are
too large for them to attempt
to handle.. We are getting im
patient to take a pleasure excursion
out in his vicinity. and have
some hopes of doing so soon..
     Not having anything interest
ing to write. and not feeling much 
in the mood for writing I shall
have to quit at the bottom of my 2nd sheet..
     There seem to be somethings in your vicinity
that I am surprised to think are tolerated.
   They must be stopped before a few in this
vicinity get back or they will be stopped
and pretty summarily.. Certain places should 
be sown with salt and ashes but death is too
good.. I could find a remedy..
     Give my best wishes to all.. and write
every week.. I received a letter from Aunt
Mary a day or two since.. All well
at Paw Paw..
        As Ever Yours
		       Edwin R Havens.

[Written upside down on bottom of Scan 8]

May 12 – 63