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[printed] THE U.S. CHRISTIAN COMMISSION, Sends this Sheet as the Soldier's Messenger to his home. Let it haste to those who wait for tidings. General Sherman's Army Regt. Div. Army Corp 1865
[handwritten] Hilton H. Jan 7, 1864
My Dears
I find the Hospl Ship has gone & left me. She went much sooner than was expected while I was at Sav-annah, I dont care so much, as I can go in the regular packet — or wait for the ship on her 2d voyage
You rcd a letter saying that I might not come as soon as expected. Things here are so full of interest that, now I am out, it is thought I should not hurry back. I am able to write many letters from here now, which do more for the
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Soc. & in collecting funds than any thing I could do in the same time at home.
My only anxiety is that you may need something which I ought to be there to supply. But as I lay awake last night thinking what it could be, there really was nothing that I could think of.
I am quite well, & bear the carrying here by sea & land finely.
You are all well I hope. I must have you with a kind Providence.
The Army will move
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soon northward of course. My plan now is, if the Hospl ship does not come back to go in the future perhaps in the [Avagr?]. on Monday next, but dont look for me until the F. one week later—say by the 15th or 20th at the outside.
Go over to the B. House & tell them this—John is driving on the business of course, & Rev. [illegible] is collecting—Tell him to go every where in the neigh-borhood of N. York—Telling the people that the army never needed the gospel as they do now & certain-ly never were so eager to re-ceive it, We had a great
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meeting of Chaplains at Genl Howards Hd Qrs—All besought me to send them more Christian read-ing. 35 were present & it was a precious time. They had I can only surmise each other on the [illegible] march & it was good to hear them tell of their varied & wonderful ex-perience.
The Blacks too are in a most interesting condition—I am getting up schools (in connection with the good men of Gen'l Ssxtons staff) & have agreed to supply them with books. Tell every body to give, give in the name of the Lord.
Yrs J. W. Alvord