Elder, William Henry, Bishop of Natchez, Mississippi, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1863 August 23

By an oversight Elder has had for more than two years a seminarian studying for Natchez who is really a subject of New Orleans. It is Patrick P. O'Connor, brother to Father N.I. O'Connor, C.M. Elder had the idea that his parents had resided in Missouri and that he had the consent of his bishop to come South for his health. He is now ready for ordination and Elder finds that though he was born in Ireland, he lived in New Orleans from the age of two years until he went to college. At one time he had attacks of falling sickness but they ceased all at once. His superior, Father James McGill, C.M., gives him excellent testimonials. If Elder could ordain him. He would send him to assist the priest at Vicksburg, who has an immense charge in his own congregation and the numerous soldiers encamped around the town. Elder has lost four priests since April 1862. He has only fourteen left. :: VI-2-g A.L.S. 1p. 4to.