American Historical Ephemera & Photography Online

ALVORD, Benjamin (1813-1884). ALS ("Benj Alvord"). Fort Wayne AR, 5 December 1839. 

3 1/2 pages, 7 3/4 x 9 7/8 in., on bifolium. Creased, with plentiful separations to crease intersections, some with repair, and toning/staining throughout. Addressed to J. L. M. Smith Esq., Baltimore, MD on integral leaf.

In this letter to the deceased's brother-in-law, Lieutenant Alvord is following up on a previous communication regarding the death of Lieutenant Constant Freeman, 4th Regiment U.S. Infantry: "I address this communication to you, with a view to add a little to the information conveyed in my first letter. On the 18' altimo, I wrote to Mrs. Freeman, announcing the very melancholy intelligence of the death of her son, who died at this post in the 17' altimo. That letter I enclosed to Capt. F.A. Smith Corps Engineers, Washington city. Learning that Mrs. Graham (mother of Lieut Graham 4 Infantry) would probably know when to direct it. I requested Capt. S. to call upon Mrs G. & ascertain the residence or address of Mrs. F. in Baltimore so as to forward the letter. In that letter I endeavoured [sic] to give a long & minute account of his illness & I trust that it has been received...I think I made on mistake in it. I stated that previous to the epileptic fit which carried him away, he had been 20 days under the effects of an intermittent fever. I should have said a bilious remittent fever. The fever came upon more violently at some times than at others, but it was not a fever & ague."

Alvord then discusses the reaction to Lt. Freeman's death among his regiment, and the lengths to which they have gone to honor him by erecting a paling around his grave with head board reading "In memory of Constant Freeman, Lieut 4 U.S. Infantry, born at Baltimore 8 May 1819, died at Fort Wayne 17 Nov 1839." He then details that the duty of taking charge of Alvord's effects devolved upon Captain Burgwin of the 1st Regiment of Dragoons according to the 95th Article of War, and directs Smith to direct all communications on those matters to Captain Burgwin.

Lieutenant Alvord was on frontier duty when he wrote this letter, and thereafter engaged in the Florida War with the Seminole Indians, the Mexican War, and the Civil War, being breveted a brigadier general in 1865 for his long and faithful service.