1865-01-07_Letter-A_Alvord_to_EditorOfIndependent

[in print] 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 Corps. 1865.

[in pencil] Beaufort Jan 7, 1865

To Editor Independent Dear Sir

I drop this line to say where I am, & that things here are of such importance that I have concluded to stay either for the return of the Hosp Ship or the [Fatten?] This will give about another 10 days on the ground—I have been at Savannah for the last week—given out all my reading matter to greedy soldiers. Had a number of large meetings with the col^d people—now free—helped in organizing schools, & so

[sideways on left side] Tell all to give largely for this great work

prepared the way for the retreaters which we shall be called upon to furnish in immense quantities.

The whole state of affairs here is encouraging—Army triumphent—full of health & hope—idolizing their Chief—& ready for anything Genl Howard is already on the move—with H^d. Qrs here. Savannah will be left with a small gar-rison, strongly [interacted?], while Sherman continues his march somewhere—You may guess, but I must not tell.

The people of Sav-annah are quite bowed down under their sorrows! & so ready to let us Yankees

do any thing. I discovered sufficient intelligence among the negroes to fur-nish teachers from among themselves—twelve of whom I examined & found competent for reading spelling & the common branches. The schools will start at once—under the auspices of a Board of Education which we formed from the colored people alone—con-sisting of all the preachers of the place, & officers of their churches—some 70 in number. The buildings to be had are the Medical College & the Slave Market, a very large pile of three stories.—I have some of the Old System of lit

[sideways on right side] (Dont show this without copying it)

-erature found those in the shape of chains hand cuffs &c. The broad platforms around the sides of the large rooms upon which slaves sat & wept as examined & had off by cruel masters will now be seated with happy faced children & youth taught by kind teachers from the spelling book & the word of God, so freedom goes—[They?] books were exceedingly [apropos?] —Here in B, I am to stay a few days & will tell you of results in my next.

Yours truly J. W. Alvord