Camp Kellogg
		    March 24th 1863

     Dear Brother
		     You will doubtless
be much surprised to receive this
letter from me at this time. But
I very often get in a writing mood
and such a one I have this morning.
     The weather still remains fine
and apparently favorable to army
movements. Yesterday morning
we went out to drill as usual, when
Lieut Briggs was ordered to take a
Sergt with him and report at the 
regimental parade ground. I was
the unlucky one. We soon found 
that it was for the purpose of
a drill in the manual of arms
with the sabre on horseback.

While drilling Col. Mann
said that if the present fine
weather continued three days
we would be in Virginia..
This I considerd as only a fine
speech made only for the sake of
hearing himself talk and thought
but little more about it.. I was de
tailed on guard at 4 Oclock in
the afternoon and went on dread
ing to be up all night and today
too. I divided watches with my part
ner Sergt and relieved him at
[tattoo?] and remained until 3
Oclock when I sought my bed
and a few hours sleep. It took
me sometime to get to sleep..
     But I was not destined to
enjoy a good rest.. for at 4 Oclock
a big thing took place and we
begin to see it, Great excitement
wonderful news..

     As I before said I had
	           1/2
slept about an ^ hour when the
Cols orderly came to our tent
calling for “Eldes” to get out and
blow the revellie, as he had received
orders to have his command ready
to march at an [illegible in original] hours notice
and such a scampering every one
tumbled out of bed and fell in
for roll call and stable duty..
    The horses were [illegible in original] groomed
and fed the blankets rolled and
put on the saddles and the com
mand was ready in about three
hours for anything as far as the
spirit of the men was concerned..
We of course will be obliged to go
without our rifles as we have only
revolvers and sabres..
	Rockets were seen to ascend
from different places in the
vicinity of Washington, and a great
many of the regiments around

us were turned out as we were
Among them were the 5th
and 6th Mich Cav. and others..
Stuart is said to have crossed 
bull's run yesterday and I
suppose we will have to go out and
chase them into their holes. We may
go this afternoon and we may not
go at all.. Cannonading can be dis
tinctly heard from toward the
southwest now. Perhaps we may
get a chance to put our foot in
it yet. I hope so at least.
     Give my best respects to all
our friends at home. My love to
Father and Mother and tell them
not to be afraid of any harm be
falling me for I doubt our see
ing any rebs [illegible in original] very soon..
     Write soon and direct as before
for we will undoubtedly be back
here before you read this.
	Good Bye till then
		Your Brother
			Edwin R Havens