May 27 1862

                                                                                                            Camp at new Brige

 

                                                                                                            Dear parents

I have just received your letter & got it red. thought I would take the opportunity to write to you I was glad to hear from you & to hear that you wear all well as usual I am well I received Byrons minature all safe & the stamps tell Byron that he looks quite natual you say that he works for Horace Pettegrew mother you say that you hope that we shall all be at Home by the 4 of July I think not as soon as that but I think that we shall go Home after this Battle them that live we are near the Rebels once more we are bout 12 miles from Richmond now we are all expecting a hard Battle here before meny days we have had orders to be redy to march at a moments warning & 3 days rations with no napsackes to cary we are to leave them here we ar camped in some woods we can go out a little ways & see the Rebles / our pickets & thears ar not a great ways a part. our Reg has not been on picket here yet we have not been here but 3 days we have had some hot weather out here it begun to rain last night it rained most all night it looks now as though it would clear of & come out pleasant you wanted me to tell you whear Henery Colbey was in my next I do not know whear he is I have hard that he had got Home long a go he went to the Hospital before we left Camp Griffin mother you wanted to know how I got my washings done I do them in cold watter go to the brook whear ever we can find them when the sun shines it does not take long for them to dry we do not cary round eny thing that is not necsary thear has been a great meny cloes throun a way I have throun a way good meny myself I have 3 woolin shirts 4 pair socks 2 pair draws I do not wear but one shirt at a time Ranty send me your minature for I want to see it Father & mother I want you to get yours taken I cannot think of much more to write this time we are all longing for this to be closed so we may all that live through this get Home some time this summer write often much love to all tell Byron to write to me & Ranty to /

 

[margin]

I expect to be in Richmond the next time.

                                                write if I live

                                                            from your son

                                                                        L. W. Haven

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