Meridian Hill Camp Kellogg
			March 14th 1863

     Dear Mother..
		   It was with great pleasure that
I received your most welcome letter together with 
Nells yesterday. I answered Nells last night and
having a few moments at the present time to
rest I thought I would improve them by writing
to you.. I am quite well today notwithstanding
my indisposition of yesterday.. I have been to the
city to day and feel rather tired with the walk
and having seen nothing hardly worthy of
notice. I feel that I had much better have
remained in camp. But my boots were needing
repair and thinking I had done my share of duty
during the past week. I thought it would be
better to have them fixed now than to delay it
until it became wet and muddy again.
   The day has been much pleasanter than any
for several days past.. The main business and
pleasure streets of the city are dry and dusty and
as they are constantly filled with teams it was
a perfect cloud of dust..

   I went past the White House today as
it was something I had not before seen. I had
mistaken the Treasurey building for it at the
time of my former visit. It is as it should be.
one of the finest buildings that could be built.
It is surrounded on three sides by large and
beautiful parks filled with evergreens and in them
the grass is now high enough to rake and men
are busy cleaning them and keeping the walks nice
and clean. In a large park across the street stands
the Equestrian Statue of Jackson of bronze raised
upon a marble pedastal which is placed upon a
mound some ten feet in highth. On each corner of the
mound is placed a small cannon and around
all is a splendid Iron railing.. All fences around
public grounds are of iron.. The White House
is some two storys high beside the basement and
garret. its walls being nearly 50 feet in highth. built
of marble and the portico supported by pillars of
the same some 20 feet high.. I went up to the capitol
again but saw nothing to interest me. The House
adjourned [Sundie?] on the 4th of the month. and
the senate has been in secret session since
that time and was advertised to adjourn at
two Oclock P.M. to day..

          not
I have ^ been in the least acquainted
with the doings in congress. this session.
But it is interesting to visit these halls and
bring to memory scenes that have transpired
in them and have stirred up the heart of
the people to joy and exultaton or sunk
it in sorrow and wailing. We can set in the
galleries and see where Sumner sat when the
cane of the ruffian Brooks descended upon his
defenceless head and feel our indignation aroused
and feel a desire to revenge the cowardly attack..
    Willards Hotel that noted resort of congressmen
and army officers is not imposing in its outward
appearance. nothing would attract the notice of
a stranger were it not for the great number of
carriages and hackmen that line the streets in 
front of it.. There are few fine buildings on Penn
Avenue or on the upper streets of the city but
near the White House there are many fine
residences and the streets are beautifully shaded
but I have heard that not a street in the
city is paved and I have not seen one yet
that is.. We can see from our camp many
spires of churches but I have not been in sight
of a nice one yet..

    The Sixth regiment of cavalry which
was sent out the fore part of the week returned
today bringing the report that Genl Stuart
had crawled into his hole and pulled in the
			              have
hole after him I guess they must ^ looked pretty
sharp..
                                          you for
	Now Mother thank ^ your good advice
as I hope you will continue to write more of it..
I know that we are beset on all sides by temptations
                        to
and I think that ^ one who is morally inclined
this is a place to strengthen those inclinations
and help to make him a great deal better for
society and civil life if he is ever spared to
again mingle in it.. We expect to receive two
months pay next week and if we do not I think
                              money
I shall have enough ^ to last me sometime yet..
     I am glad that our things all came through
safe. I was almost ashamed to send one of
those pictures home but could do no better
at the time. My love to Father and tell him
I wish he would write a few words
occasionally.. Write again soon and believe
me your most faithful Son
				Edwin R Havens
			I wish you would write me Aunt Jeannettes
			address. I believe I will write to her