1861-ca. 1875
Guide to the Photograph Collection
Abstract
Carte de visite album depicting the family of Charles Fessenden Morse and members of the Second and Twenty-Fourth Massachusetts Infantry Regiments.
Biographical Sketch
Charles Fessenden Morse was born on 22 September 1839 in Boston, Mass., the son of Robert McNeil Morse and Sarah (Clark) Morse. He graduated from Harvard in 1858 and, in May 1861, enlisted as a first lieutenant in the 2nd Regiment, Mass. Volunteer Infantry. In July 1862, he was promoted to captain. He fought at Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg (the last as a major), and after Gettysburg was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He also served as provost marshal in Atlanta, Ga. during the Union occupation of that city. He was mustered out in July 1865. After the war, Morse worked as a cotton farmer in Georgia for 5 years before traveling west in 1870 to begin a career in the railroad business. He retired to Falmouth, Mass. in 1913, where he died on 11 December 1926.
Collection Description
Album of carte de visite photographs associated with Charles F. Morse, who served with the Second Massachusetts Infantry Regiment during the Civil War, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The album includes photographs of Morse's family, including his parents, Robert M. and Sarah (Clark) Morse, siblings Robert McNeil Morse Jr. and Ellen Clark Morse, and nieces Mabel and Alice, the daughters of Robert McNeil Morse Jr. and his wife Anna (Gorham). The bulk of the album comprises photographs of members of the Second and Twenty-fourth Massachusetts regiments. A few photographs are unidentified. Identified Massachusetts photographers include Antoine Sonrel, John A. Whipple, James W. Black, and Frederic L. Lay of Boston, among others.
Arrangement
The photographs in this collection are listed in the order in which they appear in the album.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Thomas R. Morse, February 1991.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Caption: "Robert McNeil Morse."
Caption: "Sarah Clarke [sic] Morse."
"Robert McNeil Morse, Jr."
Caption: "Ellen Clark Morse."
"Mabel Morse Lee."
Caption: "Col. Greely S. Curtis 2d Mass. Inf. and 1st Mass. Cav."
Caption: "Lt. Col. George S. [sic] Andrews 2d Mass. Inf."
Caption: "Capt. W. B. Williams, 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Cedar Mt. Aug. 9, 1862."
Caption: "Capt. Richard Carey [sic] 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Cedar Mt. Aug. 9, 1862."
Caption: "Capt. Richard Goodwin Killed at Cedar Mt. Aug. 9, 1862."
Caption: "Capt. Robt. G. Shaw. Killed at Ft. Wagner July 1863."
Caption: "Lt. Col. Charles Mudge. 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863."
Caption: "Maj. Wilder Dwight 2d Mass Inf. Killed at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862."
Caption: "Col. Shaw."
Caption: "Capt. Thos. B. Fox. 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Gettysburg July 3d 1863."
Caption: "Maj. James Savage Died of wounds rec’d at Cedar Mt. Aug. 9 1862. 2d Mass. Inf."
Caption: "Maj. James Francis 2d Mass. Inf. Died Dec. 3d 1898."
Caption: "Col. Wm. Cogswell Died May 1895. 2d Mass. Inf."
Caption: "Col. J.I. Grafton 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Averysboro March 16 1865."
Caption: "Capt. Frank Crowninshield, 2d Mass. Inf. Died from effects of many wounds."
Caption: "Lieut. Sam’l Storrow 2d Mass. Inf. Killed At Averysboro Mar. 16 1865."
Caption: "Rufus Choate 2d Mass. Inf. Died of disease contracted in the service."
Caption: "Col. H. S. Russell 5th Mass Cav. Capt. 2d Mass. Inf."
Caption: "John A. Fox Adjutant 2d Mass. Inf."
Caption: "Dr. Heath Surgeon 2d Mass. Died in the service."
Caption: "Genl. H. C. Slocum Died 1894."
Caption: "Genl. A. S. Williams."
Caption: "Col. H. C. Rogers A.A.G."
Caption: "Maj. E. C. [sic] Guindon A.D.C."
Caption: "Lieut. John C. Jones 24th Mass. Inf."
Caption: "Capt. Robt. F. Clark 24th Mass. Inf."
Caption: "Capt. Thomas R. Robeson 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Gettysburgh July 3d 1863."
Caption: "Col. Charles F. Morse 2d Mass. Inf."
Caption: "Capt. John F. George 2d Mass. Inf."
Caption: "Capt. Geo. W. Thompson 2d Mass. Inf."
Caption: "Capt. Preston F. West."
Caption: "Grace Gorham Whiting."
Caption: "James R. Gregerson."
Caption: "Mrs. Sumner."
Caption: "Alice Morse."
Caption: "Mabel Morse Lee."
Caption: "Gorham, Robert McNeil Morse Jr."
Caption: "Alice & Mabel Morse."
Caption: "Alice Morse."
Caption: "Captain Thomas B. Fox 2nd Mass. Inf. d. 1863."
Caption: "Lieut Samuel Storrow 2d Mass. Killed at Averysboro N.C. Mar. 16 1865."
Caption: "Col. Henry Russell & Mary Russell."
Preferred Citation
Charles F. Morse carte de visite album, Photo. Coll. 243, Massachusetts Historical Society Photo Archives.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.