Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

on the outer edge of the blackened wharf, paces the rebel guard & on the inner edge (near the boat) our own. They eye each other savagely as they tramp back & forth but dont speak, nothing but that ^little^ white ^rag^ ^fluttering in its intrinsic fullness^ keeps them from blowing each others brains out. What a strange sad thing war is. These flag of truce boats do not expect to come up again, as some earnest military movement is on foot.

I have Mr Broughtons last letters saying that quite a number of boxes are to be received. How do you expect me to come home to help in making collections for reading matter, when these sanitary articles are still consigned to me. You are joking, I presume, about my coming. These things will all be lost if I leave, as no one sees to any thing here but their own. I am sure you would all be ashamed of me if I should come now. When every body

Washington D.C. June 22. 1863

My Dear Broughton

Your two Boxes #1 & #2 came this A.M. Also Invoice of the same—All right—and contents are timely—No mails go yet, but my horse & carriage have been sent in time from Genl Caldwells & I am at work now among Hospitals. Preached at two ^yesterday, in communication with distribution,^ Mr [B - illegible] is scouting along the line of march & distributing what he can carry by hand. Fighting all day yesterday—dont yet have the results, only as the wounded begin to come in saying "The fight was done." Am going to Alexandria this P.M.—Obliged to have a depot there as well as here—Dr Marks does not come yet. Were he here I could soon get things in shape & go for a little while to N. York. But I cannot leave for a moment now.

Say to Br Child that I omitted answering his enquiries about the fate of Br Headly because they can judge list after due enquiry—He (Headly) better go out on a reconnaissance—& during that time he can fix, by advice of friends on the ground, upon the best spot.

Please send what [illegible] you have, & also all for which I have previously written soon as may be & much oblige.

Yours Truly J. W. Alvord

A Philadelphia Oct 9. 1861

N. Broughton, Esq

Dear Bro,

Please send to the Presbyterian Publication Committee — Charles S. Luther ^Depository^ 1334 Chesnut St. 40 copies Memo. Vol. 1.00 - 40.00 10 [illegible] —1.50—15.00 1/3 off $55.00

Also samples of all your best things including the army books—with catalogues of all you publish—placards &c.

Mr Luther ( I saw [illegible] at [illegible) will take hold of our books strongly especially the Memorial. The ^[dist.]^ Sec. of the Am. Board is in the same building & will aid all he can. I think they will have the city canvassed by some individual. Let the [illegible] of samples be, not too many, but choice—I have proposed to furnish our books in quantities to this ^Presbyterian^ Board with their imprint — & as they are short of works of their own, hope to be able to supply them largely. At present however, they ^will^ see what they can do in selling our editions. Baptist Board[s] are well supplied & we are in good repulation with them. Business in general here is dull—^Both^ Martion & English &c. think well of us, but have all they need at present, also Mrs. Hamilton. All want you to send samples of new books. At S.S. Union left some samples of soldiers books to be

Washington Oct 19 / 61

Dear Br Broughton

Please send with the other things 3 each of your libraries(the wooden & the smaller ones.) Also you better send samples of all your new books, especially for children. Br. Ballantyne is to advertize & sell, & now that we are to remove the charitable depots to a new room he can do this to much better advantage — (the selling to be at his store & the giving at the rooms in the P. O.) — He thinks he can sell a good many of the soldiers books. People who want to give to ^the^ army will buy. The Hy. Bk. we hope to get Regt's to pay at least 7c price for. Also we think of having charity boxes in the Regt's so that all who will (in the Army) may contribute. The soldiers

of their Commission I will enquire for all parties as well as I can — I could however push more with a will our own cart.

But we shall see what we shall see. Hope to visit you in NYork as well as Dr Parker.

Will you tell Rev Broughton to put into the next box a quantity of our Anti Slavery tracts. The chaplains are enquiring for them, & I have promised a supply. This subject is now agitating men here as it never did before. Every body is getting Anti Slavery Southern sort of men especially. Many take the ground of immediate [illegible] Emancipation — These defeats are working more rapidly up to that point. — Do we not thus see the hand of God in them. Send on the tracts for they are wanted.

Yrs truly J. W. Alvord