1862-07-09_Letter-A_Alvord-to-MyDear

On board [unclear] for Ft Monroe July 9, 62

My Dear

I am going down for the [unclear] [unclear], quite well & in as good spirits as any one can be [having?] from such scenes as I have withstood for the last four weeks—I hope to find many things—clean bins &c—& expecially comforts for the sick—Your letter I did not receive until night before last. Glad to know you are so comfortable & away from the horrors of war—[S?] was slightly wounded I hear, in the [flabby?] part of the shoulder—just enough so as to be put into [the?] [my?] C.C. Hospital—I started to see him but

the road was impassable, & night coming on, & was obliged to turn back. A man of his Regt just as I did this, came along who knew him & I sent word that I would drive out soon as possible ^He said Capt Peck was not much hurt^—A Miss Safford, of South Boston, wrote me about her son—Tell her that he is slightly wounded as I hear (a feign shot off) & I will see him soon—We shall prob-ably have more quiet from fighting now for a time, & the place where we are is much more healthy than the swamps of the Chickahominy —large plantations & much secession wealth [lies?] this shore of the river, ^Though^ now, all this beautiful coun-try is trampled ^into mud & dust^ by the army— I have been digging wells by the help of 30 or 40 men &

yesterday succeeded in assuaging the thirst of the enormous multitude also food is becoming more abundent—& the cooking [less?]- -[unclear]—still there is a vast amount of suffering—I [left?] [some?] of [unclear] ^this morning^ still lying on the ground with no one to come for them except as an occasional nurse may give them something as he passes, the worst cases are being removed, or are dying—I helped to bury a poor fellow at midnight (last night) no [shovel?], no coffin, we know not his name, nor friends—we only know he was dead—& in this hot cli-mate must be buried at once It [seemed?] very sad. The bright moon & stars were the only mourners—ex-cept the four of us who laid him in the grave—^The dust of the soldier boy will not be forgotten by [Him?] who is the resurrection & the [life?]^ It was an

elegant funeral, as compared with the burial of Thousands— Hundreds ^at least^ out in these for-ests & over these plains will not be buried at all.

Do not be troubled about me, let us all go on in duty—I have every thing that heart could wish in such circumstances as these—If I had more, it would be given away to those who need it immensely more

Let Mr Walker fix the roof just as in his judgment, will be best—Love to all to Mother, Susan, Sammy & [Gaby?] Tell Sammy his father is trying to stop the rebels from killing everybody. [Affections?] J. W. A.