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George U. Morris Collection,1861-1874 (bulk 1861-1864)

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Author

Processed by: staff; machine-readable finding aid created by:M. Plarr

Title

George U. Morris Collection

Date

1861-1874 (bulk 1861-1864)

Repository

Berea College Special CollectionsBerea, Kentucky 40404

Conditions Governing Access note

Preferred Citation Note

[Identification of item], George U. Morris Collection, KYSX135-A, 1861-1874 (bulk 1861-1864)Special Collections, Berea College, Berea, Ky.

Extent

.4 lin. ft.

Biography/History

Morris, a native of Massachusetts, entered the U.S. Navy in 1847 and served throughout the Civil War, during which he was attached to both the East Gulf and West Gulf Blockading Squadrons. He married Mary Steele in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1864.

Scope and Content

Materials consist of letters from Morris to Mary Chase Steele which relate to his service as a commanding officer of various Federal gunboats during the Civil War.

Letters were written from aboard the U.S.S. Port Royal (16 items), the U.S.S. Cumberland (1 item), and from ashore in New Orleans (1 item). Letters detail movements of Morris's ship, the U.S.S. Port Royal, from various ports (including Mobile Bay; New Orleans; Havana, Cuba; and Apalachicola Bay) and include details of capturing enemy blockade runners, taking refugees aboard, and pursuing enemy vessels. Letters also detail Morris's personal relationship with Mary Steele. The first letter includes his photograph.

Additionally, a letter from Morris's mother is present, as are copies of documents from the National Archives, apparently collected by Mary Steele Morris in order to obtain a widow's pension following her husband's death.

Folder list; unpublished inventory/register.