(1815-83) He was born in Cooperstown, N.Y., his maternal grandfather was a general during the Revolutionary War, and his father was a major general in the N.Y. State Militia, and at the time of his death was chief justice of the Michigan State Supreme Court. Morell graduated #1 in the West Point class of 1835. In the early part of 1861, he served as colonel and quartermaster on the staff of the major general commanding the New York militia, organizing and forwarding regiments to the seat of war. He then served in the Washington defenses and on August 9, 1861, was commissioned brigadier general of volunteers. He commanded a brigade of General Fitz John Porter's division of the 5th Corps during the 1862 Virginia Peninsular campaign, and rose to division command when Porter took over the corps. He fought gallantly and skillfully in the Seven Days battles, at 2nd Bull Run and Antietam, and was promoted to major general to rank from July 4, 1862. However, the court martial of Fitz John Porter destroyed Morell's career. It has been said that Porter was ruined because of his devotion to McClellan. It could equally be said that Morell was ruined because of his devotion to Porter.
Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 3 3/4 card. Chest up view in uniform with rank of colonel. Backmark: Larcombe, Photographist, No. 25 Public Square, (S.W. Corner), Nashville, Tenn. The card has been trimmed and there is a horizontal crease which goes through the face of the subject. There is a small area of loss to the albumen paper at the upper right corner of the card which does not affect the subject. If this card were in excellent condition it would easily be priced somewhere between $150.00 and $250.00. |