Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

Head Quarters 35 NYk Stoneman's Switch Va

Feb 28. 1863

My Dears,

Two letters (one from the "loving daughter") came last evening dated Jan 27th and Feb 18th "One wine"—but "good", of course I think "distance lends enchantment" &c. The explanation is that they stopped as directed to "Genl Howard Aquia Creek"—Should have been "Head Qua. Genl Howard" or simply "Washington D. C." There being no Genl H. at A. Creek, However all is right now, as I have written before. The letters have been well kept & the Daguerreotypes are uninjured. Thank you for them, but I must have yours, homely or handsome, I took you "for better or worse" substance &

[postscripts in margins] The milk sent was recieved in good order with the other things, but was a bad article. All sour and turning to curd in the liquid tea or coffee, looking & smelling, when first opened like Dutch cheese The recipe for this condensed milk, is one quart of milk one pound white sugar Boil down a little more than one half. I then cut when cold into cakes — try it.

Shall expect your particular Box in a few days