No 1st 

		Camp Kellogg, Grand Rapids
				Sept. 25, 1862

Dear Nell,
	        
	I now seat myself to pen
my first soldier's letter and having
an idea that you would like to
hear from me I have got up
here in my old bunk with a
small board on a large pile
of blankets and am “going in
on it.”
      I am as well as ever, and from 
present prospects anticipate a good
                                                  are
time while we stay here. There ^ about
800 men here. They tell us that 
there are fifteen Captains here
reporting companies. We have to
go into the Seventh regiment. But who
cares, we will have letter “A” and it is
worth waiting a while for.

	Now I suppose you would like
to hear from how we got here.
We got into Kalamazoo about half past
one Monday night and marched
up to one of the big hotels there.
The rest of the boys fared rather 
hard there as they would not give
them but one room to sleep in and
that would not hold half of us.
	But George Lee went down with us
and went to another house got a bed
and came after me to share it with 
him. We got breakfast at Kalamazoo
and left there about half past seven.
  Twenty seven of us with Fitch besides
six or seven passengers in two coaches.
   We passed through some splendid 
country for the first fifteen miles
and then it became newer and more
rolling.. Fruit was very plenty. Apples
and peaches almost breaking the
trees down in a great many places

	I do not know what the
         wheat crop has been, but as for
the corn I did not see one piece
that I would have taken as a gift
and been obliged to gather it.
Stalks like a pipe stem and not
over five feet high with ears like
our common Pop corn.
      The first fifteen miles the soil 
looked very well but grass was the
best crop which could be raised.
      After that we came into pine
barrens which are as much poorer
than our oak barrens as you 
can imagine. The most of the
day was pleasant and warm. But 
about 4 oclock it turned cooler and
we came into Grand Rapids in a
cold drizzling rain, but none of 
us got wet through. We slept on
the floor that night and I for one
slept very well. We marched up to
camp Kellogg about half past seven

and got breakfast about
nine, and such a breakfast.
if I had not been a soldier I should
not have eaten anything But as 
it was I took my Break and Pork
and Coffee with the rest and said
nothing. The Bread and coffee
were better than we used to get at
[Post] so on the whole I do not 
know as I have anything to 
complain of. We had good dinner 
and supper and the best bed any
one can ask for. We have good Barracks
and six of us slept in one bunk and
kept warm enough to suit any
one.  We had potatoes and fresh beef
for breakfast and I ate as hearty
a one as I even ate in my life
We passed inspection yesterday afternoon
and came out minus three men
Holley, Hunter and Walker.
No one is sorry that they are 
thrown out and every one is glad
that Holley is gone. He went this
morning with Fitch

		No 1st 

        We have not done much 
yet except drill about half an 
hour this morning.
       They are yelling, “fall in
for drill” but as no one starts
I guess I will write a little longer
None but our company and 
two others have barracks
the rest sleep in tents.
Each company does its own cook
ing. But we have to borrow part
of another companies cooking 
utensils. As we can not get any
of our own unitl next week.
    We have every prospect of staying
here for the next two months
and they are talking now of not
giving furloughs after next
Tuesday. But I shall not feel
disappointed if I do not.

                    not
        As I did ^ much
expect to when I left home.
But there are more reports of
such a nature in camp than
one can shake a stick at.
      Some of the companies have
their uniforms and they tell
of us that we can get ours as
soon as we are organized into a
company, but there is no knowing
when that will be.
      Both of our Lieutenants have
gone home and the only officer
left with us is Capt Walker.
   Our firs Lieut is a splendid
little fellow. I think him as 
good as either Walker or Fitch
and on the whole I am
well pleased with the company
thus far.
        We have about 70 men in
our company and most of
them are Gentlemen.

        We have one or two hard
[parts]. But that we must expect.
It is pretty cold weather up here
but the camp is very healthy, there
being but very few in the hospital
All of our own boys are well.
    But I must stop or I shall
have nothing to write next time.
    Dont grumble about poor
writing for if you had to write
where I do you would know how to pity
me. I commenced on a pile of 
blankets. Then I tried it on my knee
and now I am lying flat on the 
bottom of my bunk. Tell Father and
Mother not to borrow any trouble
about me, for we are having 
better meals every time, and have
as soft a bed as though I were at
home. Write as soon as you get this
and forward all letters that are of
                  u
any conseq^ence after you have read
them.

       Direct to Camp Kellogg
Grand Rapids Care of Capt
A. Walker.
       Remember [tone?] to all of 
the friends and write soon
    Your Brother,
                  Edwin R Havens