Elder, William Henry, Bishop of Natchez, Natchez, Mississippi, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1863 December 30

Elder is sorry that the poor Negroes after all find so few friends who are willing to labor for their welfare. The Sunday before Christmas he spent at Woodville where he saw Mrs. Gordon and Mrs. Posey; the latter is plunged in grief at the death of her husband who was wounded in Virginia and died Nov. 13th at Charlottesville. His son, a lieutenant on his staff, who had become a Catholic at Spring Hill College, baptized his Father before he died. A little before the war Elder sent to the Seminary Mr. Konig, brother of the priest of Logansport, Indiana; he has never heard from him nor about him. Elder's brothers Thomas and Charles with their families are in Mobile, exiles from New Orleans. They have been through a great deal of suffering. His brother John was thrown into prison three or four times without any charge and once was not allowed to get in touch with his family. Meanwhile the Federal troops stayed at his house and stripped it of provisions so that the family had nothing to eat. And John is one who took the oath of allegiance! Priests must abstain from urging bloodshed whatever they may think of the merits of the dispute. He notices an advancement in the spirit of religion. Special prayers are being offered for peace in accordance with the desire of the Holy Father. :: II-5-b A.L.S. 3pp. 8vo.