Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

[letterhead] "National Freedmans' Savings and Trust Company," AMERICAN EXCHANGE BANK BUILDING, No. 87 CEDAR STREET, NEW-YORK, 1865.

[in pen] Mobile, Al., Mobile Nov. 3^d. 1865

My Dears

After much delay we are here in the harbor of Mobile—the storms have de-tained us so that we get along slowly, & I suppose you do not wish us to run any great risks. All well—But I hardly know whether I have yet told you who we all are, Maj Genl O. O. Howard—R. B. Howard his brother & private secretary—Major Stinson an aid, & myself make the party—We had Brvt. Brig. Genl C. H. Howard as far as Tallahassee, from which place he returned to Charleston— We are taken from St Marks to N Orleans in the Steamer Convoy, and in charge of Gen'l Forsyth who is on board— a govt Boat—Pretty comfortable

Morning—Have been ashore—seen the city, and had a great meeting with the Col^d. people—While full of rebellion—treat us coolly. There are good schools