1861-10-21_Letter-A_Alvord-to-Bro-Warren

Washington Oct. 21, 1861 Rev Warren

You wonder why I stay so long._ The fact is you cannot do any thing here in Washington very fast, & there are many strings to pull, & some to unpull. I have not even used my letters of introduction except to Gen'l M^cClellan—as I want to get every thing fixed & in a nutshell so that when applied to, Gov't will not hesitate to approve at once & cordially endorse—The National Convention of Young Men seems to hang fire—we do not know here what is the reason. The central com, at Phil., are to call it but we dont yet hear a word from them. Great bodies move slow, & it may be that by some jealousies the thing will be delayed until golden opportunities are past — perhaps fail altogether. We hope not. If however this should be the case, we must do the next best thing which is to press our work right on in the same channels such as in some [form endeavour] I am now opening for them. —The young men here stand ready to cooperate with us (in that case) & the work has already assumed so large a form that we can get a Commission of most respectable character from the materials we already have in hand.— I dont say this to discourage you from pushing on the National Young Men (as previously advised) but to show you how this thing must go any how. I am now just shaping the mode of distribution here with my own agency in connection with Ballantyne & the young men just as I think it will have to go if the larger body take hold of it, ie Ballantyne keeping the Depot

[sideways starting on left] P.S. Send on 2000 Hy. Bks. immediately Send your old almanacks— they will go and more of your un cov^d narration & memoir. Have read your letter to many chaplains—they will help. Dennison will give you a scene at Hatteras for frontispice, & [illegible] a [illegible] breaking scene— your paper will have to be largerHurry up the German tracts as NYk folks will have the ad -vantage of us.

[see transcription of news clipping on next page]

[small printed note on top]

Meeting of Chaplains.

A public meeting of chaplains and others interested in the moral and religious condition of the army, was held in the Rev. Dr. Butler's church on Saturday morning, 19th inst.

Dr. Butler called the meeting to order, and Rt. Rev. Charles P. McIlvaine being present, was invited to take the chair.

The object of the meeting was stated to be the more thorough combination of the chaplains, and of the modes of supplying religious reading and other Christian aid to the army and navy, and proposing that a Christian commission should be instituted, with its headquarters at Washington, D.C., through whom those supplying such matter can [page torn] agency certainty and promp-

the Young Men with the Chaplain in the vicinity—& some other excellent gentlemen constituting a kind of voluntary commission — & I am playing the travelling agent, visiting the regiments, hospitals &c, ascertaining their condition wants &c, & directing them to the Depot at B's. If there is no chaplain then I find the next best man in the Reg't sometimes the colonel or some Christian brother who will take charge of the regimented distribution. Some Regt's have most unworthy Chaplains — & in such case I do what I can by the same side method. This is the work which one man (perhaps three, one for each large division of the army of the Potomac) will have to do permanently. Such a man must be possessed of force tact influence — be ordained — so that he can preach, attend funerals, prayer meetings & perform all missionary labor in Regt's where there are no chaplains. Here is a great field & he would be universally respected by Chaplains & all good men in the army, as he would really be the man to supply every thing needed — an order from him or the Depot if the article was there, being all that w^d be needed. They have many more ways (in the Camps) of sending in to Washington than friends here have of sending out, would know when to send in the migratory state of the army so that nothing would be lost & so doing away with all this humbug of "Army Expresses" &c, Adams Express, or a freight car, the general Depot, & a notice to the Chaplain or order by the outdoor man for what he wants given him being all that is needed, this simplifying & saving expence. The value of the material, appreciated by the Regiment, securing its transportation (& that

[sideways on left side] P. S. I have just heard from Rev. Bush. He says all is right in N. Yk. as to Delegates & that the Convention is to be held in about 2 weeks—

very speedy from here to the Camp. Now I am trying with the most hearty cooperation of all parties here & in the camps) to inaugurate this system, & especially we are div-ving it up vigorously at the present moment as now the stillness of this enormous host, as if a thunder cloud before the storm, furnishes too glorious an opportunity to let two or three weeks be lost in waiting for any national convention. All here feel this — & on Saturday we had a great meeting of Chaplains & others at Dr. Butler's Ch. (to have matters start in the right quarter). We cannot publish the proceedings yet, as a com [committee] is to wait on Gen'l M^cClellan with resolutions in order first to have Chaplains themselves put in right position. (You cannot understand this, but the relation of these men to their colonels — their rank & privileges with fixed duties as to all they do &c needs to be regulated by the Gen'l commanding). We think he will do it, & had Bishop M^cIlvane, who happened to be present as the meeting — & who as you know was once Chaplain at West Point — put on as chairman of the committee which waits upon M^cClellan. This carries into effect the 1^st Resolution of the meeting. The 2^d. is in regard to the im-portant auxiliary of Reading matter—& strongly recommending the above Commission—& the 3^d. advising that said com. furnish also facilities for holding religious services such as preaching tents, or other shelter in winter quarters also comforts for the sick &c. The chaplains can do better with many of these latter things than the Sanitary Committee — Winning by their use affection, confidence & increased interest in their spiritual services. I will send you these resolutions soon. (In the mean time see gen'l notice enclosed of the meeting.)

[sideways on left side] Walker of Ct. 4^th says call the paper Stars & Stripes—with the motto beneath (large) "In the name of the Lord will I lift up my Banner" [Wave?] your flag at the head will of course remain Dont you like this?

Do not make public my plans for our more immediate responsibilities in the above commission in case the young men fail. I think we ought to have a man abroad here in the army even if the whole work is assumed by them—as we have prominent & special interests which will need looking after, we could perhaps have the nomination at least indirectly of one of the camp agents. Perhaps the one man who undertakes this work at first —(for it will be best to begin with only one) he will have the helm of the whole concern in hand, the despository agent him being only engaged in receiving & delivering packages. Though all, of course must be under the direction of the gen'l committee, and the earnest enquiry here now is who shall this man be. They have but little stuff in Washington for such use,

Had you not better go at once to N. York — fix matters with [illegible] & John, see Bush & the Young Men. Know as soon as possible, what is to be done & have a little hand in gearing the machinery. I feel the need of an operator at that end of the line. Have written Bush, but get no reply, & fear he is still sick, cannot tell you yet when I can come. Rev. Quint insists upon my coming up to Darnestown, & Gen'l Banks has invited me to do so. Please answer all my cor-respondence there on my table. Dont let it accumulate. Rev. Childs is good for the colportage , & press hard up the collections, especially in Boston vicinity. Please see the schedule of time in association at the right hand of my desk.

Yrs J. W. A.