1861-10-24_Letter-B_Alvord-to-Bro-Warren

[note in pencil] The comparison of Rich is extraordinary is it not

Poolsville Oct 2[?]. 1861

Dear Bro Warren

I dropped a line on the road yesterday, thinking I could not otherwise reach you before leaving N.Yk. Have had a sad day among these shattered regiments from Mass. the 15th & 20th, arms & legs gone & every kind of wound from the head to the feet. They fought with terrible bravery. All day long I have been listening to the incidents of the battle, & though one half the number who went into the fight are either wounded or among the missing there is no flinching among the remainder -- Even the wounded seem in good spirits & anxious [?] [call?] that they may have it over again -- It is a very strange [?] phenomenon & I have been filled with constant astonishment, how boys who had never seen war before could for 6 long hours stand under that terrific fire -- [paper torn]

[vertical on margin] P.S. I never write what I intend to on sitting down. I hope you will get on well in N. York -- in everything -- Can you not stir up collections there? [signed?]

movements & as they tell me after the first minutes with no fear -- not stupid foreigners, but intelligent New England young men -- sober -- many of them Christians, & as they talk it over tender, thoughtful & calmer now than in those awful hours of strife -- How all this can be & ready to fight again in the same way I am at a loss to explain -- I have said to myself many times to day, "Mass, boys forever," "[Noreaster?] country ahead" -- & yet this does not solve the problem. A Higher Power [?] these soldiers. It is a heroism of which they are unconscious themselves. The hand of God is in it -- [?] through these brave fellows a power prophetic of ultimate triumph. The battle was a military mistake undoubtedly. Of this you can all judge as well as myself but as exhibiting soldier like qualities there was nothing like it at Bull Run, & when overwhelmed, that awful mad plunge down the precipice & [illegible}

makes my blood chill with horror. I need not tell you how today these boys have taken books [?] It was enough for them that I & the books came from Massachusetts. They were very glad to see me. Through the hospitals, & anywhere in camp, I have been busy -- Genl Stores Division and all in this vicinity & I have visited 6 regiments today. In all I was welcomed by both officers & men -- I am getting to feel that it would be a strange thing to have a tract or book refused -- the one regiment there were no books scarcely two or three hymn books, & 3 or 4 [?] were all that could be found -- Their chaplain, who had lately come, said my visit was most timely. Of course I gave him an order on the [?] at W. for a food signed package. He had been preaching on the text "prepare to meet thy God" & there was evidently an impression on the regiment -- I found in his tent an officer conversing on the subject of religion -- & while there a soldier came to ask if [line unclear]

by the hand to enquire after his soul. He replied that "he felt serious & wanted religion" -- His brown face lighted up as the chaplain told him to bring all the boys in for the meeting -- should not such a regiment have supply of religious readings? --

Mr. Broughton asks about packages going to their destination. I think they generally do after a while but the troops have been much upon the move lately -- & there is need of making the communications more perfect. I brought along 8 or 10 packages with me yesterday -- but alas! in a number of cases the address was to the wounded or the missing!! You see what we do must be done quickly. I gave them in charge to the [?] or the [?] to the care of one of our company library to the care of corporal -- found him with a bullet in his leg but he was very glad to get the books & hobbled round quite lucky in opening the package -- You will soon see blanks I have prepared & which will be filled with an acknowledgment to the [?] in each case where the package is [?] -- Encourage any body to send them this way -- They come thru in the channels of love, along which the spirit of [line unclear]