Camp near Bristow Station April 27th 1863 Dear Nell.. You will see by the heading of my letter that we had been again on the move. But such is life and such we make it: taking everything as it presents itself and beleiv ing that we are each time getting into positions where we [can?] aid the cause of Uncle. Abraham more effectually.. Your letter was received on Saturday last, and in answering today I intend only commencing as I can not yet send it to the P.O. as I have no envelopes and nei ther our Sutler or postmaster have yet come and I do not expect that I can beg or borrow one among the boys. We received two months pay on Saturday and after paying Sutlers bills and a few debts and collecting a few debts.. I had 28 dollars left.. Some of this I think I shall send home in a few days but not yet and I may not send it at all.. The pay for March and April will soon be due. but I shall not be sur prised if we do not receive any more until next fall.. We were reviewed on Sunday after noon by Genl Stannard in which review the 13th Vt.. infantry which was camped near us also participated. Genl Stannard is a man of 45 or 50 years of age. and came out on review in a suit of clothing which looked as though they might have been worn ever since the war commenced and a hat as bad or worse than the one I used to wear at home.. Immediately after coming in from review we received orders to pack up everything and be ready to move within an hour.. This time the boys all went to work and I think they were all ready to move within the hour, and with much less confusion and excitement than usual in breaking camp.. We left camp about 11 Oclock that night and marched to Union Mills where we stopped to rest and feed the horses and ourselves.. We reached there about half past four yesterday morning it being a distance of some twenty miles.. We crossed the Bull Run at Union Mills.. making the first stream of any size that we had ever forded. We had quite a time among the boys in crossing as the stream as it was very high. Some few of them got ducked completely and others came through with out wetting a thread.. As for me I got off with a bootfull of water.. Our route led us through a fine portion of the state and I was agreeably surprised to find a country that was improved and glad to get out of the eternal wilder ness of pine scrubs and get into the clear air once more. To be sure, it was painful while interesting to look at.. We passed many once fine plantations of which the houses of some were still standing although nearly demolished. surrounded by fine orchards. but only two that we passed were occupied or had twenty rods of fence standing on them.. Soon after leaving Union Mills we came on to the field of the two great battles of Bull Run. Large and strong fortifications are scattered over the great plain of Manassas and it is but little wonder that our large army was defeated and driven back. But little of the ground over which we passed was the scene of very severe fighting. the main field being farther toward Centreville.. We passed through Manassas Junction or rather its ruins. as scarcely a stone of it remains.. Here we came to the Orange and Alexandria R.R. on which we connects here are now encamped.. It is connected with the Manassas Gap Road. and the Baltimore and Ohio Road I believe. It was at that place that so many cars were burned a year ago the trucks of which still remain standing almost in the same position in which they were burned. but very few of them having been removed from the track.. Here were large and strong fortifications on the western. side I think it must have been. but on no other not so much as a rifle pit even.. Before reach ing that place we passed the barracks which they occupied while holding that place. They were built of logs and were comfortable and spacing enough to hold an immense number of men.. We are now camped near Bristow Station some five miles from Manassas Junction on the O. and A. railroad. and some 20 miles from Warrenton to which place the road is now open.. What the object in sending us here is is more than I can say. It was rumored while preparing to releive move here it was rumored that we were to join Genl Stoneman and form a part of a body of cavalry which under his command was to make a dash to the rear of the rebels.. But I now think that we shall remain here a few days.. as guard for the R.R. and also patrol the country about here thoroughly and then move nearer the front. They will keep us in the rear of the lines of the Grand Army to see that the rear is clear of all bushwhackers and guerrillas Last night at roll call we received orders to get up at two Oclock this morning and be ready to start at 3 Oclock for Brentsville where it has been remored that a small rebel force was or had been lately stationed.. We did not get up however until after three Oclock and it was day light before we got started from camp. We passed the small creek near the station and there found a large broad and good road leading directly to Brentville at distance of five miles.. But as you may infer from what I have written above, then the battalion all went, let me stop and say that only Co. “A” went numbering 44 men and officers all told. We reached Brentville soon after five Oclock and went through its one. little street on a sharp run. but nary “reb” did we see, and little good would it have done if we had. for we had neither sabre or revolver where we could use them in a less time than half an hour.. We remained there about an hour and then dividing our forces sent 20 men under the command of Lieut Briggs away to the right while the rest of us under Capt. Walker kept straight through towards. Falmouth and Fredericksburgh.. Col Mann with 6 or 8 of his “guard of honor” went ahead of us a short distance.. Before reaching that village we saw a house away to the left of the road which the Col ordered searched and Capt. Walker accordingly sent Sergt O'Brin and six men to search it.. After we had been in Brentville nearly half an hour they came riding in and Billy bringing in a double barreled shotgun on his shoulder and a big power horn under his arm.. He said that that a great many old stocks and gun barrels lay scat tered about the house and buildings. but no men.. Brentville is like all other Virginia villages is built on a single street which is about 60 rods in length. It contains a courthouse and jail. what was once a tavern. a store. a stone church and a dozen dwelling houses.. The village was not searched quite so thoroughly as I would have wished to have it.. yet I think that no “butternuts” were there.. From there the Col and Capt Walkers division kept straight on south to Cole's Store some five miles on the road to Fredericksburgh.. From there we went east some three or four miles then north and back by way of Brentsville to camp.. The morning was mild and pleasant the country the nicest I have seen since we passed through Ohio, and I enjoyed myself finely.. The soil is of a peculiar reddish clay and sand with a firm slate stone bottom some 12 or 15 inches below the surface and is well adapted to grass. but I should not think it would raise very good corn or oats.. Fruit trees in great abundance are to be seen everywhere and the peach trees are now in full bloom. and the appletrees are beginning to show their green leaves. the fences are in good repair and quite extensive preprations are being made to raise a crop this season.. The citizens are plowing and many of them have just sown their oats. Nearly all the plowing is done with one horse plows and I have not seen a cast iron plow in Virginia until today.. which was an iron beam rudely constructed one.. About ten Oclock it commenced a drizzling rain which continued until we reached camp again.. Our scout amounted to seeing the country. a pleasant ride. 2 shot guns. 2 axes. 2 hatchets about 50 pounds of flour an old tent and a nice matrass which had undoubtedly belonged to some officer.. All of these things except the shot gun were taken at. Lanes Store some 7 miles from Brentville.. At this place we found four men, one about 17, or 18 years old dressed in a complete suit of “butternuts” which he or some “other man” had worn while in the service of the C.S.A. although he denied ever being in the army himself. The shot gun was taken by order of the Col and was a splendid piece. The rest were taken from the old store which was broken open by some of the boys. The Col is pretty strongly opposed to taking anything from citizens. but after inquiring about these things he turned away remarking that it wasnt his company. So far as I can learn there is considerable activity among our troops in this deparment.. Genl. Stahel's division is on the move from Fairfax C.H. but having been from there so long I do not know where the different regts are. Genl. Stoneman's division is quite active.. Warrenton which I have understood was occupied by the rebels.. is now occupied by the 2nd N.Y. cav. a squadron of which was at Brentville on our return. The lines I hear are being pushed forward simultaneously and the new regts are made to follow and keep out of much danger and also see that no rebels come in on the rear.. We have not seen a “reb” yet although they have been reported very close to us several times.... I was very thankful for those stamps and hope I shall be able to furnish my own hereafter.. I received those papers you sent me this afternoon also a letter from [illegible in original] and Melinda which I assure you was very welcome.. I am well as usual and hope this will find you enjoying good health. Write soon and I will try and pester you with 8 or 10 pages two or three times a week.. and I wish you would write whenever you feel like it without regard to answers.. Theres nothing like home and letters to soldiers Yours as ever Edwin R. Havens