Odin, John M., Archbishop of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1863 August 26

Mrs. Martin, one of the good Creole ladies of New Orleans has just been informed that her son Emile has been made a prisoner of war and is now confined in Camp Chase near Cincinnati. She begged Odin to address Purcell in behalf of her son who is only 18 years old and not much inured to hardships. She feels anxious that he should be reminded of his religious duties. Odin asks Purcell to recommend the boy to the special care of the priest who resides near Camp Chase. Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick of St. Louis advised Odin to postpone the selection of names for the see of Little Rock until after the war. It has been impossible for Odin to correspond with the bishops of the province. Now that Natchez is occupied by Federal troops he will be able to write to Bishop Elder. He has no communication with the portion of the diocese which is beyond the banks of the Mississippi. Misery is increasing.