Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
Concern For His Sister At St. Joseph's Academy Following The Rioting In Baltimore in Late April 1861. A good early war-date Southerner's letter, 2 1/2pp. 8vo. written by Alexander Porter Morse, Hillside near Newark, N. J., May 15, 1861 to his mother Margaretta S. Morse (Wederstrandt) of New Orleans, La, rejoicing at the opening of war and giving his love of the South written upon a letter he received from Mrs. Shorb of St. Joseph Academy concerning his sister's safety following the rioting in Baltimore as the 6th Massachusetts passed through on their way to defend Washington, in part: "Herewith you will find a letter from Mrs. Shorb in reply to a note addressed to her by me during the excitement in Baltimore requesting her in case of any…danger to take Rosa under her roof. The letter speaks for itself…in your anxiety and to some degree unnecessary alarm you desired her return. Still she expected, unless hearing from you, to remain until June…Maryland I regard as the safest state in the Union. The desire to cultivate peace with her citizens will render the troops very affable. A great deal of grumbling, complaining & lawlessness exists there. The New York Seventh Regiment (the only one…in which they appear to have any confidence) will…return to New York this week. If so I fear the poor soldiers who are left will be seized by a violent fir of ague and trembling of the knees. I have more confidence than ever in the permanent success of the Southern Confederacy…it may be one battle of some importance will be fought. We think here that Virginia will be the Flanders of the war. Harper's Ferry, Richmond or Petersburg will most likely be the battlefield. I hope they will let the Federal troops penetrate some distance in Virginia and then cut them off entirely by a signal defeat on all sides. I trust you have a sufficient naval force at New Orleans in the way of steamers, gunboats etc to engage with any fleet that may attempt a blockade of the Mississippi. A defeat there will be a wonderful damper to their pleasant expectations. Great attention should be paid to the organization of a navy. Speed and efficiency should characterize their action in this regard. Fifty or sixty thousand troops, fully armed & equipped are reported in Virginia; Gen. Lee (a man who stands high even here, in military matters) commands this division. Lies and [?] on the South are the order of the day. Some attention should be paid Mr. Russell correspondent of the London Times. He will make some stay in our city. His letters will exercise a great influence on the English reading class and it is desirable that he be favorably impressed with our government just now. I confess to a great eagerness to return South and do my duty in the field, in spite of hot summer yellow…fever. I really like the Tippany Irish, am spoilage for the want of a fight. Lately I have [?] a very military carriage and (believing I owe it to my state to do so) cultivate a very fierce expression of countenance by wearing my mustache a L' Austriene and sporting a Chinese Imperial. If this don't have the effect I have a serious mind to turn out my Englishers. How is Uncle Johnny on the crisis? Try and get me a commission as Lieutenant or sergeant in some good corps. I am acquainted with the drill & maneuvering and at present study Ledit's [?] active service. Mrs. H. is anxious for me to stay though she goes to Washington in [?] her husband who enlisted. Mr. H. is in Washington…yr affect. son, A. P. Morse". Morse penned his letter on verso of a May 5, 1861 letter he received from Mrs. Shorb who husband was "Dr. Shorb" of St. Joseph's Academy and Free School for females in Emmittsburg, Maryland. Shorb's 1 1/2pp. letter to Alexander Porter Morse, reads, in part: "I recd. your letters of the 29th ult…& to relieve your mind of anxiety in regard to Rosa's safety I avail myself of our first mail to reply. Everything is quiet in our neighborhood…St. Joseph & Mt. St. Mary's are too much the benefactor of our people to dread an attack quarter without tidings to warn them of their danger. Dr. Short would be one of the first on the spot should danger threaten St. Joseph & your parents may feel assured that Rosa would be brought to our house & cared for as my own were we to dread any violence…you would scarcely imagine the state of our once happy country from the signs around us, everyone pursuing industriously his own avocation, no interests at stake save the eye of Providence over his corn or potato crop…it may be [that] we are too insufficient to be meddled with…I am going to St. Joseph this evening & [will] inform Rosa that I have your [??] to offer her a home & protection [in] case of danger…I am as ever your sincere friend Margt Shorb. Heavy tape stains, but very readable, else VG.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.