1865-11-07_Letter-A_Alvord-to-MyDear

[in pen] Steamer On Mississippi Opposite Port Hudson [in pencil] Nov 7, 1865 My Dears

I cannot write with pen, the steamer jolts so.

We had a good time at Mobile—Did I tell you? Indeed I have forgotten from whence I last wrote Well. Mobile is an old fashioned South-ern place—not so much hurt by the war as most places Souther as you know our army did not get there until after the surrender. Many cotton shops in port, Yankees, &c. But the ret^d. rebels are quite bitter We find this is the case about in proportion as any prosperity has been left there.

The Steamer convoy took us on Saturday [down?] the [Bay?] & out to sea—then up through Lake Ponchartrain to N. Orleans—This is the largest City in the South—full of returning business. Had the usual great meetings fixed a Bank &c &c—all of which

I will not repeat, and left last eve-ning for Vicksburg 400 miles as you know up the river.

These great there story western steamer Boats are a curiosity—Utterly unlike our Eastern or seagoing boats as a house is different from a ship—Long saloons & just about every thing going on —a band of music is now in one playing— card players in another—reading, writing— talkin—& so on, you may imagine every thing you can think up & it is all [here?]

Your letter of 24^th Oct reached me in N. O. & I was very glad to hear that you are all so well, & that Mrs B is there & you are enjoying it.

Has not Mr Wyman money from the Coupons? Use what is needed,—Too tired to write more to night.

8^th Have passed Baton Rouge & Pord Hudson to day. Thought of Bro Lewis, or [Jaby?] was it, who was there—the place is now most [dreary?]—nothing but the high bank is visible

Baton Rouge is a pleasant looking town on the South bank—with two large white buildings very conspicuous—about 4000 inhabitants. The banks of the Mississippi are not pleasant & yet the country bordering the river is far more fertile & populous than I expected—Large places—some of much elegance are seen for a hundred miles above N. O. Then the country becomes more wild, but we have seen nothing swampy yet—The continuous levee which borders the river on both sides is quite a cu-riosity—about 10 feet high on the side of the river & 10 or 20 on the landward side, It keeps the whole country from being overflowed—as it is all on a lower level than the river, this seems strange to you & I will explain to you more at length some time.

9^th cannot send my letter any faster than I am carrying it on this boat, & so I keep writing—We waked up at Natchez this morning at 7^oC. a [town?] on a very high bluff, or rather beyond the bluff except the business portion just along the river—an old place

& of considerable business importance but we could not stay long enough to go ashore, The other places of less note passed are Bayou Sara & mouth of red River—The latter river here pours into the great Mississippi its waters highly tinted with red color from the red Earth of the country through which the steamer runs.

We expect to be in [Vicksburg?] in about half an hour—Have taken one last [rest?] on board (ha)—& tonight sleep in some Hotel.

From V. I go to Montgomery &c as I told you—Gen'l H. & others of the party—are doubtful as yet what way they go. We stop in V. for a day or two—Write me once more to Charles-ton. Lovingly to all

Yrs affect, J. W. A.

[sideways on right side of page] Cant write any better on this crazy steamer The boys are good yet I suppose