Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A good early war-date Southerner's letter, 4pp. 4to. written by Alexander Porter Morse, Islip, Long Island, N. Y., June 17, 1861 to his mother Margaretta S. Morse (Wederstrandt) of New Orleans, La, in part: "Last week I wrote and dispatched you a letter hoping that by the "ruse de guerre" I might succeed in running the postal blockade, now established with some success of the guidances [referring to Richard Clark. See Peter H. Watson's letter on Clark's arrest elsewhere in this catalog] at Washington. My plan…was to mail my note to Wheeling, directed to Philip Moore (a classmate at Emmittsburg)…since my last intelligence events of much importance have followed each other with such rapidity that we have scarcely realized the magnitude of one before it has been…eclipsed by a greater…I arrived here last Friday having heard…of Uncle John's [Wederstrandt] sickness…I have become quite a competent nurse…Aunt Helen, Uncle John and myself rode in the large carriage to Babylon…paying a visit on our return at [American Industrialist] Bradish Johnson's. He is very thin and jaundiced…regarding a return at such a time and during ouch excitement. At many stations he had to be…carried by men…such dangers they passed through…there were no servants, no preparations to receive them…I left them all well at Hillside…Mr. H was then…in Trenton, acting as assistant quartermaster to the New Jersey troops; about the roughest and poorest specimens of…soldiers you have ever seen…I don't see…how I can go for Rosa [his sister] but if Mr. H goes to Washington I will try and get him to run up for her…the tone of public opinion has changed very…rapidly lately. Capitalists are fading and going by the board daily and a merchant from N. York…said if this war continued much longer every man in N. York would be ruined…the banks…would be drained and broken…many who at the outset were clamorous and eager for this war, who were going to exterminate, crush and wipe out the poor Southerners are beginning to realize what an immense price such a whistle will cost…the Peace party is gaining strength…in Congress the administration will find many Chathams who will repeat in substance the warning of their illustrious predecessor to the House of Lords. Some banks will arise to vindicate the right. I myself know some who will enter the Legislative Hall prepared and determined to act as man and freemen, men who know the right and…dare maintain. They are not to be lured from their duty by the promise of prey nor…threats of party. You will hear when Congress meets from Benjamin Wood of New York, Vallandigham of Ohio, May of Maryland and Bayard of Delaware…fear has again seized the papers and the people…the dispatches from Washington are headed "Fortress Monroe surrounded, Our troops in peril", "Descent on Washington feared from Leesburg". They also report the evacuation of Harpers Ferry by the Confederates…my opinion still is that the 1st of October next will see all this thing settled and end in the establishment of a Southern Republic. To obtain this desirable end it may be necessary to teach the Federal troops the lesson that Napoleon learnt…when he invaded Russia…the indignities perpetuated on the people here, the daily violations of the Constitution by the Lincoln administration will meet with its deserved punishment. retribution…will come with more severity and I doubt very much if Mr. Lincoln will serve out his four years as President…the very men who elected him may decapitate him!…write me, care of R. Hartshorne, 146 Front St, N. York and enclose it to John Schidt, Louisville Ky by express. Much love…Porter". VG to near fine.
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