Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

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 Wash. D. C. July 6, 1865

My Dears

Could not get to Jersey C^y to do any thing, as I had not the keys—& so did not see Mr. Coles—Things are left just as they were when I came up—The girls will go over in a few days—& see to things, & if need be, have Mr. Hauser carry the stoves up stairs.

I dont see any way clearly, & it is best not to stir till we do, the agt. will fasten the house upon as for another go, after 1^st Aug't if he choses—but will probably help us rent it if we wish— A. Maria will write what she does, & what she thinks best. She will perhaps see Mr. Cole, Please write her to do so. Will also find a house in B. if she can—[illegible] if that is best, She will write about staying in Winsted if that is best. I am to be away a good deal this winter, but you be where you will,—am a little weary as you see by my pen—as I was obliged to come on last night

[letterhead] War Department, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, Washington, Oct 1^st, 1865.

My Dear

It is Sabbath evening, but I must write a word. We were de-tained over night in Phila & reached here at 9^oC last evening. Mrs Howard & the children tired enough—She looks blue today as she goes over this great dirty house, The Gen'l charges homesick-ness upon her. Dont wonder.

Have heard today, at the new Cong'l Ch. or one wh. they hope will be new Rev Mr. Johnson, formerly of Bowdoin St. Ch. Boston—He is now Pastor of the new Congl Ch in Baltimore—Good sermon. Am well as usual—Hope you all are. Shall have work enough at the office tomorrow

Love J. W. A.

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

In reference to my being here or there or yonder (with Tr. Soc Bureau, or Bank) I have many things to say.

So go back a little—You know that in the ministry my health failed under overmuch brain pressure. I saw it & you did, and a desperate rush was made—first to travel—then the Custom House, then Tract Soc, all relieving me in a measure. The latter as much as any thing until the struggle of controversy began to be very severely felt in the same direction. The war came & I saw two things 1^st that I could at once widen & popularize the work of the American Tract Soc of Boston, and 2^d. that it would give me the outdoor physical exercise for which I was suffering—I will not deny that my Country & the spiritual interests of Soldiers had their wright with me. The result was, that not-withstanding exposure, disease—malaria & I may almost say a thousand forms of death on every side I came back better than I went & at the present moment I have a general soundness of constitution beyond what for the last 25 years I had reason to expect. Had I struggled to remain in the ministry I should, in all prob-ability, long ere this ^have^ been in my grave, as a hope-less & helpless invalid. But you say "The Tract Soc keeps you in the ministry" I shall ^probably stay in^ the ministry, so far as I have ability & strength to fill it. Although nothing so taxes me as even my occasional