Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

Love to the little ones

They will be good I know—& hope Sammy does not suffer much—

You had a Merry good Christmas I hope. Tell me all about it when I come, I expect Sammy & Johnny will do [so?] cons-tantly

Good bye — we are off

J. W. A.

great prosperity—Ten schools are already organized in Savannah—& I have done much to introduce our literature among all the schools here in Beau-fort & on the islands adjacent.

Besides this, the army work I have put in shape both directly, & through the Christian Commission— What do you say to coming to Savannah to live? We will talk about it when I get home. Sammy might be a well boy in this beautiful climate. Julia will soon finish her schooling & be ready to teach, music too, I hope, and be

Head Qs. Bureau of Freedmen &c Washington D.C. May 27. 65

My Dear Wife

You hear all from the boys—They had quite a time—George was magnificent— Hope they reached home safely—I talked with them about fixing the old house as we planned—also to let Susan have the largest place. The one on the flat—she will pay for that just as well as for the one on the hill. & then she will be in a home as good & comfortable as any of them—which she de-serves.

From what you write, you will perhaps stay at the Hotel. Do just as you choose & make yourself comfortable—Try to make Sammy as comfortable as you can. Am glad that Johnnie is good & improving.

I had a time of diarhea but am now better. The weather was fine during the review— but is now stormy again & cold—Am detained

Freedmans Bureau Cor 21. & P St Washington D.C. Augt 30. 1865

My Dears

Came through safely by a kind providence. Slept some—& some I didnt. Head slightly aching in consequence—but feel, I suppose, well as any body would often the repose of such a jotting pillow.

Here, glad to see me—Took breakfast with my Col.^d landlady—coffee, eggs—ham, sausages, mutton stew—hot & cold biscuit—Tomatoes potatoes—&c &c. Bath not any good, but feel quite refreshed—filled, at any rate.

Am at the office ^too early to find the officials who will be in a 10^oC. These clerks came earlier.

You all slept well I hope—& have a good breakfast, Johnny & Sammy are up top no doubt Yours aff.

J. W. Alvord

here for the Negroes—we saw one of 600 pupils which appeared just as well as any white schools at the north, though not so advanced. Compositions speaking, dialogues &c—with geography & arithmetic we listened to most satisfactorily—Besides this there are 5 evening schools and 8 or 10 smaller day schools, the lattter taught solely by the Col^d. people themselves.

My Bank will go here. Cotton makes lively business for the present, & money with all laborers is plenty. 30, or 40 heavy ships are in port loading with cotton, Sammy would like to see the great steam cotton presses which mash it into Bales so that it can into the hold of ships. Jonny would jump about a-mong the crowds of little colored boys. They are a laughing set.

We see the obstruction put down in the harbor on all sides—Poor vain attempt to succeed in their rebellion—Tell Sammy the biggest boats ^here^ -as large as oceans steamers—have only stern wheels, great things, that go swashing along & the boats are three stories. They would tip over easily if they went out to sea and they only go through a narrow channel from here to N. Orleans. We are now ready to start, & the