Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

meeting of Chaplains at Genl Howards H^d Qrs—All besought me to send them more Christian read-ing. 35 were present & it was a precious time. They had I can only surmise each other on the [illegible] march & it was good to hear them tell of their varied & wonderful ex-perience.

The Blacks too are in a most interesting condition—I am getting up schools (in connection with the good men of Gen'l Ssxtons staff) & have agreed to supply them with books. Tell every body to give, give in the name of the Lord.

Yrs J. W. Alvord

ready toa help to us.

Maj. Gen'ls Sherman, Howard & Saxton have given me transportation to come & go at my pleasure.

The latter is to take charge of negro affairs in all this region & is a truly humane & Chris-tian man. I have this morning had an introduction to him by Gen'l Howard—who, you know, is always my friend.

The army is moving —Pocotaligo is taken with 3 or 4 guns captured, & the Rail R^d to Charleston is secured.

You are suffering for nothing I hope though I

pilot is coming on board. We pay him $ 100 to take us to that city.

Your letters are there of course. After a few days we go up the river to Vicksburg & then I shall part with the General & go by Montgomery to Augusta & down to Savannah and Charleston a-gain—So please direct all your letters to me there Care Gen.l R. Saxton as before. The transfer of the Beaufort Savings Bank, which I could not perfect in the little time we had coming on—takes me that way. After that I shall come home, perhaps over land possibly—not if I can help it, in a ship from Charleston. In the latter case I shall see you first as then there will be no stop in Washington before coming. But will write you from N.O. or Vicksburg—

Love to all as the Sailors are shouting us off—

Affectionately, as ever J. W. Alvord

Write me at once & of every thing to Charleston S.C.—