1861-10-13_Letter-A_Alvord-to-My-Dear

Washington D.C. Sat morning Oct 13—61 My Dears Here I am in the midst of the noise & [unclear] of war—reached here after travelling all night from Phil, delayed by the rushing on of troops, destined as you have seen heard for the Annapolis Expedition "(30,000)" are [around?] somewhere—Put up at Willards but Mrs Bryan found me (Eleanor had written) & I am now her guest—(Loisa you know) Ellen is also here whom I shall see—They are both well settled—Yesterday called on Genl Mc.Clellan with my letter of introduction from Dr Thompson (Cincinnati) his pastor) & ob-tained an excellent pass to all the Camps Forts & Hospitals—without limit of time— A Pass much beyond what is generally given here—Our work is very highly appreciated here by all military men & chaplains. They say our books are by far the best of which they can get so military in style & matter—Even to the bindings— Dr Smith one of the pastors here paid them a very high compliment last evening—Yesterday went down the Potomac to Alexandria, & to Virginia Camps in that vicinity. Grass grows in the streets

be terrible. Our men are not impatient but there is a solemn face they all wear a kind of calm agony, which tells you of power. Battle next time will not be a Bull Run frolick—The Sabbath order of Genl Mc.Clellan is hailed by all the Brigades—& where the officers disregard it they [unclear] at once the remonstration of the troops—& the mild but firm rebukes of the commanding General—[Description?] ^{& drill} is going on industriously & rapidly to a perfection which has hitherto been unknown—Hope is rising in all loyal hearts—& yet the envy is very strong—The moral aspects of this war are of wonderful interest. These Th To think that all these 10,000 gathered host are now in condition to be reached & spiritually [blest?]—& as I think impressible beyond what they were at home—Chaplains must (many of them) earnest faithful men Christians in the ranks encounraged to be faithful prater meetings—Exhortation, preaching, reading & soon there all the prayers of Gods people power over the whole why should we not expect large blessing—Why should we wonder that God is in these camps already in converting power. Will try to write every day Yours &c J. W. Alvord

of A. & The Marshall House is fellows with a regiment of our troops—Here & there a secessionist scowled at us in the suburbs but generally they have fled, & their houses & stores are given up to the [unclear]—Visited two hospitals of 200 sick & wounded—generally recovering, but some are very badly off yet—shot through & through—The nurses are kind ladies under the care of Miss Dix, & the surgeons skillful—Next up to Fort Ellsworth back of A. a strong hold—I must not tell you. Love many bygones—& there on to the more distant Camps of VA—Camps are every where—150,000 men are in this vicinity—The Genl Officers [recieved?] me with marked attention & all spoke of our work as greatly needed—Chaplains are very grateful—We hope to get some "Christian Commission" established here, like in some respects, to the Sanitary Commission with position & recognition from Gov.t—I have not seen the Pres.t yet as I want to get some facts in hand first. Gen.l Scott I expect to see this evening. I go to day across the Bridge on to Arlington Heights to visit All the camps & Forts in that vicinity—A gentleman with a similar pass goes with me who is engaged supplying the Hospitals with Comforts. We have a Horse & Buggy to day—You can have no idea of the vastness of this War till you come when it loads down.

If you need money Mr. Hill will furnish you—I think you better go in town over in 2 or 3 days—It will give you vanity, & you can there see all I write to know, & some things I may write to you they perhaps would like to see. It is very difficult to find time to write to either of you all I wish to. So many things I see that I should like put on paper, but even this I cannot do. Memory alone can contain & carry them. This was an enormous struggle & its details are wonderful.

The impression here is that Gen.l Mc.Clellan is gaining advantages of the enemy—though they are known to be very strong, & a battle may take place at any moment—Will you ask Br. Warren if it will be proper to have me elected as a delegate from the Young Mens Soc. at Boston—to attend the national convention—I think I am a member! Certainly was at first—as they will find my name on the records as one of the founders—This would give me the opportunity to say & do some things which otherwise I could not. Mt. Sturgis could manage this if it can properly be done—There will of course be others appointed too. Please see Br. W. at once in regard to it.

I must close for I have much to do to day

In haste Yours affectionately

J.W. Alvord