Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

Custom House, Boston, Collector's Office, 26th March 1852. Sir: I appoint you an "Aid to the Revenue" agreeably to the power vested in me by the 2d [sic] section of the Act of 2d [sic] March 1799, and you will be employed as such whenever yourr [sic] services are needed upon the requisition of the Collector or Surrveyor [sic, and will be paid a per diem compensation of $3._ for such time, or for such a number of days as the Arrival Officer or Surrveyor [sic] may certify to the necessity as well as performance of the duties devolved upon you. If you conclude to accept this appointment upon the conditions proposed, you may present yourself here to take and subscribe the usual oath of office, on the 1st. [indecipherable]? Respectfully, yours, A. Greely Jr. Revd J. W. Alvord Collector Boston

Quarter-Master General's Office, Washington City, 17 Dec. 1861

Col. D. D. Tompkins Asst. Qr. Mr. General New York

Colonel,

The Rev J.W. Alvord, Secretary of the American Tract Society of Boston is engaged in the distribution of tracts and religious publications through the army.

Not being strictly on Government Service, this Department has no right to give orders for his travelling at the expense of the United States, but you, and all other officers, a[folded page covering words]tted to allow him to pass in transports

into me) & the [venerable?] Secretary may head off future operations—but I shall keep sending similar parcels to these colaborers until I find they are no longer wanted then I shall (D V) take another turn at the work there myself—They cannot keep our publications from these Regiments. What do you say? Will you furnish Ammunition? & cant you find those who will help? I will not attempt to tell you my feelings as upon that beautiful Sabbath morning I approached Fort McHenry—I seem to my imagination to have been bombarded over night & as that same "Star Spangled Banner" waved over me & the troops among whom I was laboring it sang to my heart its own immortal Eulogy—In the stiff breeze of the morning it fairly snapped but defiance to traitors "Long may it wave &c" I said. I think under its inspiration I loved both my country and my Saviour better than ever before. In the Hospital too I had a blessed time. 230 are there 60 of them wounded. How they did grasp the little red books—& the kind lady nurses (from Boston) seemed as much pleased as were the poor invalid soldiers. But what a shocking long letter I have written. Yours truly J. W Alvord

Hd Qr A D Jan.13.1863

The privilege granted within is extended until otherwise ordered.

Rufus Ingalls Chief Qr. Master Army of the Potomac

[penciled in] Order for forage for one horse given Mr. Alvord. 1862-3

The horse is possession of Mr Alvord who is distributing tracts &c. in the army, is a public horse, & officers doing duty in the Qr. Mas. Dept will please furnish Mr Alvord forage for the animal when he requires it. Stewart [Muir?] [illegible]

[Comp. Sergt?] April 25/62

more beautiful than when seen from any other point in or by any other light a small candle shone [illegible] on the table. The countenance of the noble group of officers, reflecting with a peculiar [illegible] paleness. The neighboring flare only as it was obstructed by the reverent outer circle of servants some of them of ebony tint) at such a time in such a place - & in the midst of such surroundings especially in view of what might be expected before the days march closed - for as the the Gen remarked the phrase " this may be my last " had been inserted? [no] not only in his but in many other letters that morning. (Though few probably had his added tender phrase Kiss Eddy & give him papa's blessing) I say in the midst of such thoughts and influences as the Head of the noble Christian General & his whole military family [bent?] to implore the presence & favor of God I trembled with emotion & could not

refrain from tears

In twenty minutes the Bugles sounded the advance! & our whole Brigade deployed into the road to Richmond. The rain had just hardened the loaming dust so that the travelling was excellent & for 3 hours the long line of bristling bayonets & interspersed baggage wagons wound their way through Virginia plantations & [underserving?] forests - so silently that the song of birds & the hum of insects fell distinctly upon the ear- The considerate officers rested their men every hour, when the weary soldier without unstrapping his knapsack would ground his arms & adroitly throw himself upon his back & slipping the knapsack up under his head & thus in a twinkling form a most convenient & luxuriant pillow_ At about 9 o clock the slight mist of the morning became rain - In another hour it was pouring in torrents.

Quarter-Master General's Office, Washington City, May 3d 1862

Mr. J. M. Alvord, Sec. of Am. Tract Society Fort Monroe Va.

Sir,

Your letter of the 22d ult to the Secretary of War, in relation to securing a room at Fort Monroe for the purpose of facilitating your operations as Agent of the American Tract Society has been referred to this office.

Captain Santelle Assist. Quarter Master, USA at Fort Monroe, has this day been written to, to give you the use of a small room for this purpose. If he can do so without injury to the public service.

I am Very Respectfully Your obt. Servt. [illegible]

Quarter Mst. General

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 &