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
Morse, Robert McNeil (1807-1891)
Taken by A. Marshall, Boston.Caption: "Robert McNeil Morse."
Morse, Sarah Maria Clark (1816-1863)
Taken by Black & Batchelder, Boston.Caption: "Sarah Clarke [sic] Morse."
Morse, Robert McNeil (1837-1920)
Taken by A. Marshall, Boston."Robert McNeil Morse, Jr."
Morse, Morse, Ellen Clark (1842-)
Taken by A. Marshall, Boston.Caption: "Ellen Clark Morse."
Lee, Mabel Morse (1865-1922)
Taken by A. Marshall, Boston."Mabel Morse Lee."
Curtis, Greely Stevenson (1830-1897)
Taken by A. Marshall, & Co., Boston.Caption: "Col. Greely S. Curtis 2d Mass. Inf. and 1st Mass. Cav."
Andrews, George Leonard (1828-1899)
Taken by Mathew B. Brady, New York.Caption: "Lt. Col. George S. [sic] Andrews 2d Mass. Inf."
Williams, William Blackstone (ca. 1831-1862)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Capt. W. B. Williams, 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Cedar Mt. Aug. 9, 1862."
Cary, Richard (1836-1862)
Taken by T. Faris, New York.Caption: "Capt. Richard Carey [sic] 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Cedar Mt. Aug. 9, 1862."
Goodwin, Richard Chapman (1833-1862)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Capt. Richard Goodwin Killed at Cedar Mt. Aug. 9, 1862."
Shaw, Robert Gould (1837-1863)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Capt. Robt. G. Shaw. Killed at Ft. Wagner July 1863."
Mudge, Charles Reddington (1839-1863)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Lt. Col. Charles Mudge. 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863."
Dwight, Wilder (1833-1862)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Maj. Wilder Dwight 2d Mass Inf. Killed at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862."
Shaw, Robert Gould (1837-1863)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Col. Shaw."
Fox, Thomas Bayley (1839-1863)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Capt. Thos. B. Fox. 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Gettysburg July 3d 1863."
Savage, James (1832-1862)
Taken by Black & Case, Newport and Boston.Caption: "Maj. James Savage Died of wounds rec’d at Cedar Mt. Aug. 9 1862. 2d Mass. Inf."
Francis, James (1840-1898)
Taken by G. K. Warren, Lowell.Caption: "Maj. James Francis 2d Mass. Inf. Died Dec. 3d 1898."
Cogswell, William (1838-1895)
Taken by J. W. Black, Boston.Caption: "Col. Wm. Cogswell Died May 1895. 2d Mass. Inf."
Grafton, James Ingersoll (1841-1865)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Col. J.I. Grafton 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Averysboro March 16 1865."
Crowninshield, Francis Welch (1843-1866)
Taken by A. Marshall & Co., Boston.Caption: "Capt. Frank Crowninshield, 2d Mass. Inf. Died from effects of many wounds."
Storrow, Samuel (1843-1865)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Lieut. Sam’l Storrow 2d Mass. Inf. Killed At Averysboro Mar. 16 1865."
Choate, Rufus (1834-1866)
Unknown photographer.Caption: "Rufus Choate 2d Mass. Inf. Died of disease contracted in the service."
Russell, Henry Sturgis (1838-1905)
Taken by A. Sonrel, Boston.Caption: "Col. H. S. Russell 5th Mass Cav. Capt. 2d Mass. Inf."
Fox, John Andrews (1836-1920)
Taken by A. Marshall, Boston.Caption: "John A. Fox Adjutant 2d Mass. Inf."
Heath, William H. (1828-1864)
Taken by Meade Brothers, New York.Caption: "Dr. Heath Surgeon 2d Mass. Died in the service."
Slocum, Henry Warner (1827-1894)
Taken by Lazier, Syracuse, N.Y.Caption: "Genl. H. C. Slocum Died 1894."
Williams, Alpheus Starkey (1810-1878)
Taken by Abraham R. Henwood 46th Regiment, 12th Army Corps.Caption: "Genl. A. S. Williams."
Rogers, H. C.
Taken by C. D. Fredricks & Co., New York.Caption: "Col. H. C. Rogers A.A.G."
Guindon, Eugene W. (1841-1908)
Taken by Godshaw & Brother, Louisville, Ky.Caption: "Maj. E. C. [sic] Guindon A.D.C."
Jones, John C.
Taken by J. W. Black, Boston.Caption: "Lieut. John C. Jones 24th Mass. Inf."
Clark, Robert Farley (1838-1912)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Capt. Robt. F. Clark 24th Mass. Inf."
Robeson, Thomas Rodman (1840-1863)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Capt. Thomas R. Robeson 2d Mass. Inf. Killed at Gettysburgh July 3d 1863."
Morse, Charles Fessenden (1839-1926)
Taken by J. W. Black, Boston.Caption: "Col. Charles F. Morse 2d Mass. Inf."
George, John F.
Taken by G. H. Loomis, Boston.Caption: "Capt. John F. George 2d Mass. Inf."
Thompson, George W. (d. 1864)
Taken by F. L. Lay, Boston.Caption: "Capt. Geo. W. Thompson 2d Mass. Inf."
West, Preston C.F. (1835-1901)
Taken by R. W. Addis, Washington, D.C.Caption: "Capt. Preston F. West."
Unidentified woman.
Taken by Black & Batchelder, Boston.Whiting, Grace Gorham (1853-1926)
Taken by F. L. Lay, Boston.Caption: "Grace Gorham Whiting."
Gregerson, James R. (1838-1898)
Unknown photographer.Caption: "James R. Gregerson."
Unidentified woman.
Taken by LeJeune, Paris.Image missing.
Unknown photographer.Caption: "Mrs. Sumner."
Achorn, Alice Morse (1867-1934)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Alice Morse."
Lee, Mabel Morse (1865-1922)
Taken by A. Marshall, Boston.Caption: "Mabel Morse Lee."
Unidentified woman.
Taken by J. W. Black, Boston.Gorham, James Lane (1810-1902) and Robert M. Morse Jr.
Unknown photographer.Caption: "Gorham, Robert McNeil Morse Jr."
Achorn, Alice Morse and Mabel Morse Lee.
Taken by A. Marshall & Co., Boston.Caption: "Alice & Mabel Morse."
Achorn, Alice Morse.
Taken by A. Marshall & Co., Boston.Caption: "Alice Morse."
Fox, Thomas Bayley (1839-1863)
Taken by J. A. Whipple, Boston.Caption: "Captain Thomas B. Fox 2nd Mass. Inf. d. 1863."
Storrow, Samuel (1843-1865)
Taken by G. K. Warren, Cambridgeport.Caption: "Lieut Samuel Storrow 2d Mass. Killed at Averysboro N.C. Mar. 16 1865."
Russell, Henry Sturgis (1838-1905) and Mary Russell Amory (1870-)
Taken by A. Sonrel, Boston.Caption: "Col. Henry Russell & Mary Russell."
Unidentified soldier of the 24th Massachusetts Regiment.
Taken by Black & Case, Boston.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.