Anstaett, Father Joseph, Galveston, Texas, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1862 April 12

The last letter from Odin which Anstaett received was of January 13. At the same time he received one for Mrs. Chapuy Chapuis which he gave to her. She wonders if Odin still plans to leave for France in June. Their reverses have discouraged everyone very much, even H. de St. Cyr. As for Anstaett nothing has changed his conviction that the South will be victorious. Mother St. Pierre Harrison, R.U. is making her novices return to San Antonio. Anstaett would have preferred to have left them there for some time, but, as she consulted Father Louis C.M. Chambodut, he lets her do it. He has seen her since her return from San Antonio that the correspondence of Sister Ste. Félicité, R.U. and Sister St. Stanislas, R.U. with Mother Ste. Séraphine, R.U. of New Orleans has not done St. Pierre any good, and has done him less. She was wrong in offering the convent to the military authorities without consulting the Chapter and she was more wrong still in going to the hospital with four Ursulines against Anstaett's will, and against Chambodut's from whom she extorted, very indelicately, a dispensation from the cloister. However, they who are on the spot could have remedied it more quickly than persons far away. When they have a new bishop, the ecclesiastical authorities, and others of New Orleans, will have to agree with him so as to have at least one or two persons who have the true and eminent religious spirit and who will cooperate with St. Pierre. If not, the tree which Odin helped to plant will always bend toward the earth and its fruit will be stunted. For the moment everything is going well but he knows a little of what is happening and he divines the rest. One of his colleagues is waiting impatiently, because despite his reputation for sanctity this priest cannot help showing his teeth at times. Perceiving these things, he does not allow anyone to substitute for him in the convent. He does not bother himself about the charges against him for they are insignificant, as tortured as certain persons who have distorted them, and two-thirds lies. The last letter he received from Odin contained $50 for Father Michael Sheehan. The moment they have a new bishop, Anstaett will not be sorry to be replaced at the convent provided it is not by someone with soft brains. James P. Nash is collector of war taxes; he amuses them with his stories. St. Cyr is happy to join them for dinner. John Spann is leaving for the war. He went to Frelsburg to hire some Germans. It appears that there is some insubordination in Fayette County but he is convinced they are not Catholics. :: VI-2-f A.L.S. French 4pp. 12mo.