Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

duplicate [pencilled in]

Camp Winfield Scott 1st Ct. Artillery April 30

My Dear I have just dropped in from the rain with Chaplain Walker & seize a pen to tell you how I am. This morning just as I had left the Head Quarters who should I meet but Dr Kirk & Messrs Toby & Hardin who had ridden up from [illegible] Pt. in the storm to see the works--How it did pour! But off we started to Gen Heintzelman Head Quarters through the lines to near where the pickets lie and our seige Battery is planted. It was fortunate for us that the fog was thick for we were within short rifle range of the rebels. We obtained plain sight of their fortifications & their guns. We did expect & shot might be sent from them, for we must have looked -- standing mounted as we did in a row at the farthest edge of an orchard, with an orderly mounted, very much like the staff of some Gov't officers. The beauty of spring time was about us, beautiful [illegible]