Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
Confederate officer's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Lt. Alexander Porter Morse, CSA Ordnance Department, "Camperdoren", August 27, 1863, to Miss. Sarah Avery, in part: "After four months of adventure and suffering of many kinds I have returned to Saint Mary's, the scene of many a happy meetings…on my return to New Iberia I regretted to hear that you were all still sojourning in Texas…Capt Lemures and myself left Mobile in a wagon which brought us through safely as far as the Atchatolya when our team broke down. We were fortunate however in getting a pair of mules from Major Boone. Thus reinforced we continued on our way and reached New Iberia yesterday…we were nearly three weeks in making our way across the country and had some escapes and much sport on our trip, having no servant with us we acted as cooks, drivers and stable boys. Our turn-out was an old peddler's wagon…after having a hundred adventures and escapes in making my way from the "Maple Leaf" to Richmond after having narrowly escaped the Yankee clutches again when Dix came up to Richmond. I returned to Louisiana to participate in a still more romantic and dangerous accident. Miss. Lizzie McWilliams and myself…had started in the carriage yesterday evening to call on Mrs. Porter. When crossing the bridge and ascending the steep apron on the other side the horses became unruly, stopped and commenced backing…the heavy and close carriage of Mrs. McWilliams in which we were riding had struck the railing, broken it and dashed into the Teche. Miss. Lizzie and myself in it. It sank to the bottom immediately and turned over. I saw at once our great danger, shut up in a close carriage and fifteen feet under water. There was no exit from our position except through the window next to which I was sitting. I called to Miss. Lizzie to drop her hoops if possible and follow me. I struggled through the window and she seized me by the coat. We…succeeded in getting clear of the carriage…the lower part of Miss. Lizzie's hoop caught on the wheel. I at once commenced swimming to get the small skiff when the heavy uniform perfectly saturated…pulled me down like lead. I sank twice and then came up near the bridge and one of the wagons, pulled us out…Miss. L. had succeeded in rising with me and as I went down she caught on the top of the carriage and managed to keep her head above water until we could get the boat to her. We were both very much exhausted but considered ourselves very fortunate to have saved life. Since our accident I laugh at Miss. Lizzie and tell her that as longs I was going to the top she held on to me, but as long as I went down she deserted me…I met Col. [James Patrick] Major [WIA Donaldsonville, La., June 28, 1863 and brigadier general July 1863. By the end of the war Morse was a staff officer on his staff while under General Wharton's cavalry command.] here last night and was much pleased with him. I suppose you have heard that Gen. Bragg is probably dead. [Since May, Bragg had been suffering from numerous boils and chronic diarrhea. He was unable to resume command of his troops until December.] When we left Mobile his physicians said he could live only a few days. Our people and army on the other side of the river were in fine spirits and doing everything to increase the armies. They were still fighting in Charleston. I am ordered by the Sec. of War to report Gen. Kirby Smith. I shall hope to hear from you at Shreveport…yr. fatefully, A. P. Morse". Light toning, else VG
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