Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

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

God bless & be with you all

The ship is ex-pected to go home in about a week from now with the 50 wounded & sick of Shermans Army, in about 4 days after that you may ex. me (D.V.)

Pray for me to that God who rules the winds & waves—

The Army are in fine condition & about to move somewhere— very hungry for something to read—& I have a good supply—Will you write the substance of all this to B^r Child— Yrs J. W. Alvord

Do not make public my plans for our more immediate responsibilities in the above commission in case the young men fail. I think we ought to have a man abroad here in the army even if the whole work is assumed by them—as we have prominent & special interests which will need looking after, we could perhaps have the nomination at least indirectly of one of the camp agents. Perhaps the one man who undertakes this work at first —(for it will be best to begin with only one) he will have the helm of the whole concern in hand, the despository agent him being only engaged in receiving & delivering packages. Though all, of course must be under the direction of the gen'l committee, and the earnest enquiry here now is who shall this man be. They have but little stuff in Washington for such use,

Had you not better go at once to N. York — fix matters with [illegible] & John, see Bush & the Young Men. Know as soon as possible, what is to be done & have a little hand in gearing the machinery. I feel the need of an operator at that end of the line. Have written Bush, but get no reply, & fear he is still sick, cannot tell you yet when I can come. Rev. Quint insists upon my coming up to Darnestown, & Gen'l Banks has invited me to do so. Please answer all my cor-respondence there on my table. Dont let it accumulate. Rev. Childs is good for the colportage , & press hard up the collections, especially in Boston vicinity. Please see the schedule of time in association at the right hand of my desk.

Yrs J. W. A.