No 12th  

			Camp Kellogg
	                      Grand Rapids December 6th/62'

Dear Brother Nell
		    Your most truly wel
come letter was received on Thursday eve
ning and as this is the first opportunity
afforded me I take advantage of it to
answer it.
	Your letter found me rather
unwell, but I am all right again now
I caught a severe cold Tuesday, making
out pay rolls, and rather assisting our
Orderly to do so, which on Wednesday
night had got so bad that it made
a little homesick with all the rest.
		   s
	But Thur^day morning I reported
myself sick and went to the doctor who
gave me some Condition powders and
Quinine and I soon came out all right.
	The others boys are all well excepting
Allen Parks whose shoulder bothers him some
during the cold stormy weather we have
had for the past week.

          The weather has been very cold and
rather stormy, but as yet we have no sleighing
         Our new barracks are at last finished and we
moved into them last night. They are ill
contrived things, but then who cares. I have
forgotten all the comforts of civilized life
and am now contented to receive a crust of
bread and live in a building that is actually
more uncomfortable to a civilized person
than your hog pen. And yet I never enjoy
ed better health nor felt more contented
that I now do. True it is that not a day
passes that I do not think of home, friends
and everything, and spend many moments
of pleasant reverie contrasting my present
situation and surroundings with those
of a year ago, and even three months ago,
and sometimes, I must confess I almost wish
I had never enlisted. But the next moment
something new arises and I soon forget
my misery and feel as gay as a lark.
	I am glad that our folks are well and
hope that they may continue in good health
so that when this war is ended, we may all
meet under the dear old roof and spend many
happy years in a happy reunion with all our
soldier friends and others. Give them my love
and tell them that I should prize a letter from 

         them a great deal. They have written to me
but once yet. I received an interesting letter
from Rene last week. He was then near Nashville
Tennessee, and had been busy chasing the “flying
rebs” as he calls them. He said he wished me no
			          we
ill luck but he would like it if I were there to
chase the rebel cavalry instead of their being routed
out of bed at all [Anr?] times of night to chase a few
cowardly secesh cavalry. He had been offered the
Adjutancy of the regiment but would not accept
it preferring a 2nd Lieut. commission with a
company to a 1st Lieut. without one.
     He sent his love to the folks at home.
        Although we have made out our pay rolls
we have not received any pay and may not receive
a cent before leaving the state. Gov. Blair was
here Thursday, and occasioned quite a gathering
of the people. He said that the 6th would go
to Washington next week, but would receive
no pay until they reached there. A part 
of them say they will never leave camp
until they have received their pay. But
I rather think they will, I have heard so
much “big talk” here and have never yet
seen anything come from it excepting
the reverse, that I always believe the contrary
of what I hear. [So] I think they
go without their pay and perhaps we too.

	Charlie Greble came here yesterday
morning and stayed all day. I enjoyed a tip
top good time with him. He wanted I should get a
furlough and let him pass me home and go up
to Battle Creek and spend Sunday with him and
Richard Pool. Had it been two weeks later I
should have accepted his offer, but as it was I
  it
thought ^ better not to do so at present.
        I should like to get home Christmas and New
Years, But think it doubtful at present.
	We have been divided up in to platoons each
Sergt taking charge of one. It has divided us up
awfully. (the distinctions being in size) I am entirely
alone for friends, not one of our boys being in
any squad.  I would like to see you and George
out here when it comes good sleighing. Dont wait
for me, nor stop with one horse and [acuter]
but bring two and a big sled. Come if possible a few
days before Christmas and you can count on passengers
home, your board shant cost you anything if you
will accept our rations. If you can I wish you would
send me some postage stamps they are almost
impossible to be got here. You need not send me any
money, or but little, and be sure not to send any
of the Union Plank Road bills as there is 5 percent discount
on them here. I would rather not have any before I
write again. I hope you will not feel disappointed in
not receiving my letter to night for since I came
back here the mail has been changed and I have received
you letters on Thursday evenings. This will not
reach you before Tuesday or Wednesday as it must lay
over until Monday morning before leaving here.
      Our Capt. is quite unwell and I fear will continue so
a long time. He has the lung fever. Some think
he will be obliged to resign but I hope not for I should
hate to lose him, as would all the company.
    But I must stop. Write often and long,
and tell every one to do the same
    As ever Your Brother
			Edwin R. Havens

[In margin: “Direct to Co ‘A' 7th Mich Cavalry until further orders”]