Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A great pair of war-date Confederate soldier's letters, totaling 4pp. 4to., written by Corp. Alexander Porter Morse, Co. I (Morgan Rangers), 1st Louisiana Cavalry. The first letter is complete and was written from "C. S. Barracks, Baton Rouge, Nov. 25, 1861" to his mother Margaretta S. Morse (Wederstrandt), and reads, in part: "…I read with much pleasure & interest the advice to a young scout & amused as well as instructed many of my fellow soldiers by its perusal. Mr. Seabold was perfectly delighted at his reception and…came to me on his return & told me "what mighty good parents" I had. In fact everyone of the company that has visited our house comes back perfectly carried away…last night…I had occasion to be corporal of the guard from two in the morning to eight…your devoted son, A. P. Morse". .... The second letter is a partial, but has great content recalling a rather touching scene of their heading off to war. It is datelined, Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 2, 1862, reading, in part: "Arrived here this evening…after a prosperous trip…I had a considerable advantage over the majority, as Capt. Shute was so kind as to share his large state-room with me. He also introduced me to his son James who got aboard at Vicksburg. We had a grand ovation coming up; planters giving us sugar, molasses, cane & bouquets in the greatest abundance. Col. Morgan had three cart loads of sugar cane at his landing for us. We reached Morganza about twelve o'clock at night. There we found a large crowd of the friends & connection of the St. Coupee boys waiting to bid them good-bye…remained there some two hours. They scene was a very affecting one, mothers parting from sons, sisters from brothers, husbands from wives and as we pushed off…the sobs of fathers, mothers & sisters were audibly heard although our cheering was almost deafening. Last night as we were alongside a wood-boat the latter was struck by a snag which penetrated entirely through her bottom & killed a deck hand who was wooding on her, another was knocked overboard, but subsequently picked up…Buckner with sixty thousand men is on his way to Louisville & will probably be there soon also…Gen. Price is marching towards St. Louis &…the Federals were withdrawing many of their forces some even from near Cairo & Paducah…if Buckner is marching towards Louisville…the First Regiment of Louisiana Cavalry may, ere long, march gaily down main street & pass the once hospitable Galt House on their war steeds. The four companies do not debark until tomorrow…Capt. Williams & Capt. Le Jeunes company (the two forming a squadron) start for Bowling Green at which point we are said to have forty or fifty thousand men among whom is Terry's celebrated Regiment of Texas Rangers. Mr. Heard was on the wharf to see us off…we passed the floating battery about one hundred miles below this place. The Memphis was near her, but the gun-boat…are by this time at Columbus. The excitement about an attack on the latter place…has entirely subsided. The Yankees have their hands pretty nearly full and they begin to see that this game of brag…cant bluff us. At one time we hear of their coming up the river & attacking New Orleans with fifty thousand men, at another 100,000 men are coming down the Mississippi with gun-boats, iron-clad steamers, a land force etc to shell the cities…& lay waste that beautiful valley…". Unsigned, and most likely a partial letter but with amazing content nonetheless. Minor pin holes effect the left margin of the Nov. 25th letter, otherwise both letters are VG (2 pieces)
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