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in any immediate danger, but
of course will be ordered forward
when the general struggle comes--
God will preserve them may we
not trust. Your good letter came
last evening All you write about
I will see to when I come.-- Expect
to preach to morrow to the 5th New York
(Zouaves) near Head Quarters & go to
the Fortress on Monday.

Well really have I not written a
long letter. You may thank the rain,
for I found here a little fire in Chaplain Walkers tent & my horse under shelter.
It pours literally. This Reg has just
been paid & the tent around me is
crowded with soldiers asking the
Chaplain to send their money home
for them. Some 12 or 15 000 $ will go
in this way from this single Regiment--
One boy who gets 13 doll per month has
just told me that since the war
commenced he has sent 117$-- This spoke
well for [illegible]. _Good bye for I must
get back to Head Quarters

The Lord bless and preserve you. [illegible] J. W. Alvord

[postscript in margin]
Have just heard it is expected the seige guns will open
on Monday.