Stevensburg Va
	November 23d 1863
Dear Brother Nell,
		      Although I
have received no answer to my last
I do not know when I shall have
another opportunity of writing you
and have therfore seized a few mom
ents to employ them in writing you
a few lines
	We are on the eve of an
expected grand movement, Rumors
are rife concerning our destination
and objects and preparations pointing
to a movement are going rapidly
onward.. All beleive in a forward
movement and nearly all beleive
that we are going to try a new
change of base and that the
“Peninsula” is the “accepted place.”
     The origin I beleive can of these

rumors I can not give but “every
body” thinks that the only [illegible in original]
and sure route into Richmond
and, of course everybody “says we are
going that way.. But be that as it
may, we are bound to move and
bound to go where Gen Meade tells
us to. Be that to Richmond or to
Washington. Our train has been
cut down in number of teams and
wagons by rejecting all four mule
teams and merging them into
six mule teams and supplying
them with 18 pounds of grain per day.
instead of [twelve?]. Horses are not all
for draught purposes being required 
for cavalry and artillery.
     The first indications I perceived of
a move was on Saturday when waking
and finding a storm of rain in
progress. [illegible in original] and I put a floor in
our tent thus raising us from
the ground a little.. Next on

“going to Brandy Station all sick
soldiers were being loaded to be sent
to the hospitals around Washington
and Alexandria.. Yesterday being inspec
tion day the Insp Gen. of our division
came around and caused all [illegible in original]
tents except the one used by Brig QM
to be turned in and confining Regt QM
to “A” tents and men to shelter tents
all mess boxes to be destroyed and
each mans baggage cut down so that
it may be carried on his horse..
    Regt. trains are ordered to carry ten
days rations of Hd Tack but no pork,
and five days rations of forage for
their regts. Each man will also carry
3 days for himself and one for his
horse. The weather has been quite
good thus far and may continue
for sometime yet although it
looks somewhat gloomy at present.
     It is rumored that the infantry
will commence moving tonight

which seems quite probable. [illegible in original]
[pioneer? prisoner?] Corps is busy building a bridge
over a small creek near here. Many
think we shall cross the Rapidan and 
moving southeasterly cross the Rappahan
nock at Fredericksburg or Port Royal
and from thence move to some point
on the James River. These are mere
conjectures and I give them as such.
the results will allow how nearly
correct they  may be.
     Col. Mann has been absent from
the regt for sometime endeavoring
to get a cartridge box for the Spencer
rifle of his own invention accepted by
the war department and has at length
succeeded. [These?] boxes will contain 200
rounds and are positioned on the left
breast thus protecting the heart from
harm. 3000 have been ordered by the
war dept He has also planned and
proposed a scheme for a “Buggy Brigade”
This will consist of men transported in wag
ons twelve men in each armed with
the Spencer repeating rifles. with bayonets
and his cartridge boxes.. They are to act
as  [dismountible?] [illegible in original] and act
[several words illegible in original] along and be
supported by the [illegible in original] This plan
had been approved by the Genls Custer, Kilpatrick 
Pleasanton and Meade and strong hopes are en
tertained that it will be carried into effect by
the authorities at Washington.. We received our
pay a week ago. I received a letter from 
Cousin Helen a few days since saying her
Mothers health was very poor and it
was feared she would not live long.
   Have heard nothing from home since
the [6th?] of the month.. Hoping to hear from
you soon and that I may be able to write
you an intresting letter from some
[other?] locality. I remain
   Yours in Haste
		Edwin R Havens