Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

if they were informed of supplies - but many Regts. have stupid or even un-godly - at least [heretical?] Chaplains. Some have none at all - & the best are often obliged to be absent tem-porarially - One plan then is this - to have them picked godly men making one for each of them then grand divisions of McClellen army - who shall on horseback [itinscate?] - taking each their division in order, calling on the Chaplain of each Regt. or if no Chaplain on some responsible christian man of the Regt. ascertain their condition. want go among them & make personal ob-servation & then leave on order for the [illegible] supply. This order who an-[wind?] at the Depot. The chaplan then himself casts about for the best way of obtaining it, by the mail [carrier?] (as most of the Chaps. manage the mails) by the [Sutter?] - or by the quartermaster waggon perhaps going himself - he can easily get it. & just when & where he wants it

Washington 24 Oct 61

Dear Bro. Broughton

Yours is here, & I am glad the "Banner" is coming—You better send half the edition here This, just now, is the place for most of our things. While the whole army pauses for a few days before the coming battle, it is a golden opportunity wh. must not be lost,—already our troops are packing & some in the late engage-ment wh. I had just prepared my-self to supply—How sad. The 15th & 20^th Mass. suffered severely—I shall visit the wounded tomorrow & do what I can for them. Send the Hy. Bk. with [tunes?] as soon as you can. Better put it (or at least a portion of it) in stiff covers

[sideways on left side] P. S. Glad to hear your business is good

The men will think a great deal of this Bk. & for use it should be made durable.—Our Bk. will take the preference of all others when you get in the [tunes?]—Dont forget the red covers—They are the go here, I should like while I remain that large quantities of all we have should come on, as I can increase very much the impression by having an abundance in hand. I dont see any Health books in binding of cloth, please send them [Cromwell?] takes with the officers, also Vicars & [Havelock?]—send some in cloth soon—I may be here & week or two longer.

Saw Miss Dix last evening & gave her some books, & promised more. She was greatly pleased, & I am to call again this evening—What does that attack upon her in the Boston Journal mean?—Did any of the matter that

you gave the ladies in [Tremont?] St. even come here, I can find no trace of it, I think you better send here instead of giving to them. If you have not the Hy books in binding, send them unbound for temporary use—send also all the thin books (bound if you can) as they go farther than others—You have no idea how Chaplains come round me, both here & in the camps, & beg for these things—Larger quantities we want—Tell all our friends & the Churches this—You do well, but what are these among so many! Gen'l Howard this morning, in [recovering?] up the [numbers?] with me, thinks there are 200,000 men all told, in the Army of the Potomac alone—Reckon for yourselves, 13 Divisions—of infantry besides artillery, & cavalry—Beg hard. Dont let the donations fall off. These dear men will soon be falling like autumns leaves—Shall they not first in

these simple forms, hear of Cx & his gospel? This last battle is very bad—Have just seen the funeral cortege of Co^l Baker pass—The city is saddened—& strong men are bowed. the loud wail of this funereal dirge & the long line of mourners quickens my heart to more instant duty, never have I felt so emphatically as at the present moment "what we do must be done quickly"—a report is just in town that only 400 of the 15^th Mass. are left, we scarcely believe it, but their loss has undoubtedly been dreadful—I enclose the receipts of deposit in Cleveland. Will settle up with you on my return. Has my boy reported his sales of what was left?—Please acknowledge $25— from W^m [Ballaitym?] Washington D.D. (for [sold?]) & charge it to me. Also—but my [Moms?] Bk. is not with me, & I will report next letter

Love to all Truly Yrs J W Alvord

[upside down at bottom of page] J. W. Alvord Oct. 24. 1861.

[sideways on left side] Your delegates are right. Shall hope to see them before the convention

Rockville Oct 26/61 14 miles from Washington Up Potomac

Dear Bro Warren

I have a moment while the stage stops—Your paper looks well—& the plan of [seen?] monthly is right—Do that by all means—You better send more than 2000 to Washington 5000 at least—It will go very widely—I will tell your men about it after the next meeting of Chap-lains on Wednesday—

If you can stay a week or two in & about Washington it would pray to come—Two or three days would hardly give you time to see the camps they are so far off from the city—Should be glad to see you at any rate we could [concoct?] some things.—Do all you can to prepare in N Yk for the Convention. It is important for us to keep ahead, & I dont quite see how we can do this without having a man here. This army correspondence too must be looked after for the paper must be tiptop—But we shall see as we go on— Go ahead with a rush is the way to keep from any [theory?] even of even of [union?] with Nassau St.—Yr J. W. Alvord

P.S. Your article for the Observer is good — Let these fellows puzzle away at us — all only shoves us ahead. Only give us money, and plenty of attractive publications. — Tell wife it is her turn next - but perhaps not until I reach N.York. She must have patience —

Yrs J. W. A

Washington NW 23/61

N. Broughton

Brother,

I omitted a large order for the new HyBk -- many of wh. are already disposed of --We expect to sell this [?] for price at least ---- Please send 1000 if you have them at once -- Also send me copies of the [?], [?], & T. Journal at once by mail. Those I took were mislaid -- I aways want copies of these immediately--will you see to it! Came on safely -- & am seated in Room 22 [?.O.] pleasantly -- am answer[?] letter from Savage in here -- Br Bush is to take hold of calls in [N.rK?] much as we sometimes [?] to have things done in Boston I think B. will start with [?] [?] if your dispositions will push sales & business matters,[?] accept under my [?]

Truly

J.W. Alvord

P.S. [?]