Stevensburg. Va.
	  February 13th 1864

     Dear Father & Mother
			        Again
I take my pen to send you a
few lines; not that I have any
thing of importance to relate. but
because I have found myself alone
and unoccupied and have chosen
this as a way to amuse myself.
     I have been homesick for
two or three days. and of course
have taken no pleasure in what 
I find around me. and have
received no letters from home
for more than a week. It is
now a year since I visited
home. Although I can scarce
ly realize the fact. yet a fact
it is that. near as I can figure

it. it has been just a year
since I left old Camp Lee 
for my last visit home.
  I trust however this will
not be my last letter home..
     The weather and day
remind me much of that one
and could I land at Buch
anan tomorrow morning 
and find everything as much
like that of a year ago. as
everything seems with me. I should
be loth to beleive that a year had
passed with its varied scenes
     We begin to look for some
active movement by some
part if not all of the army..
Orders received last night
point to a move by the cavalry
and I should say a continued
march of some length and
not a mere raid. Yet the
future alone will show

     Could we be certain that
    the present beautiful weather
would continue it would be
a sin to allow the army to 
remain inactive.. The troops would
find no difficulty in moving
and the supply trains would
move with comparative ease.
     I can not say that I hope
we shall move. for it seems al
most labor and loss in vain, for
this army to move. I do not know
what the folks at home think of
the “Army of the Potomac”. it seems
to me to have committed more
blunders than the rest of our armies
combined.. Three times have we
attempted to cross the Rapidan
and each time have we found it
impossible to make any stand
south of it. This with its present
commander at its head and since
the great victory at Gettysburg

     Could we be certain that
    the present beautiful weather
would continue it would be
a sin to allow the army to 
remain inactive.. The troops would
find no difficulty in moving
and the supply trains would
move with comparative ease.
     I can not say that I hope
we shall move. for it seems al
most labor and loss in vain, for
this army to move. I do not know
what the folks at home think of
the “Army of the Potomac”. it seems
to me to have committed more
blunders than the rest of our armies
combined.. Three times have we
attempted to cross the Rapidan
and each time have we found it
impossible to make any stand
south of it. This with its present
commander at its head and since
the great victory at Gettysburg

		I am in usual good
health. and as I hope to hear from
home again soon I think I shall
soon recover from my homesickness.
     I have received but one paper
from home this week. We get the
Washington Dailie's nearly every day.
but they contain but very little news..
     Some few. of the veteran troops have
returned and others have gone home
on furlough.. The 7th West Va. Inf.
went the next day after returning
from the late movement.. The furloughs
of our 1st Cav. are now out. and they
should have rendezvoused at Detroit
by this time and within the
next fortnight they should be back
here again. I received a letter last
night from Wm Kelley of the 2nd
Cav. He said that he had heard


that their regt had re enlisted.
He is detailed as orderly for
Gen. Sheridan and has been
away from the regt more than
a year.   I have not heard from
Newt Stephens in a long time
and hardly know what to think 
of it   Can you tell me what has
become of him. I heard some
time ago that the 12th infantry 
was expected home soon. have
they come..
	The talk of our re enlist
ing is played out. and so is
that of the speedy coming of our
Paymaster. Four months pay
will be due us the first of March
and I presume we shall then
get it.. I saw in the “Chron
icle” a few days since that
when a soldier serves three
years he can not be drafted
for this war

        Had this been known
     two months ago I doubt
if there would now have
been so many veterans.
    It seems to me almost
an injustice that these veter
ans should be credit on
the call of 300 000. of last 
October. It is true the get
more bounty from the state
by this. but it also affords the
lazy. traitorous cowardly
Copperheads to still another 
chance of keeping from
the army.. which should
have by this time ended..
	I am willing to do
my share of the work. yet
I like to see every one bear a
proportionate share..
	But I hope that
ere another year. this war
will be ended.

     Mother why don't
you write. It has been
a long time since your
letter was received and
answered. and I would 
really. like to hear from
you again.. I hope you
will not delay any longer
but write at once. I have
not heard from Aunt Mary
for a long time. Do you
ever hear from her.
     Excuse this dry and un
interesting scrawl. and
beleive me as ever your
	Devoted Son
		Edwin R Havens