Alfred Mordecai, USMA 1823, first in his class.

January 3, 1804 --- October 23, 1887, Age 85.
 

Jacob Mordecai (1762-1838) of Philadelphia settled at Warrenton, North Carolina, in 1794 where he was a merchant and later conducted, with his family, a non-sectarian female seminary from 1809 to 1818. His first wife was Judith Myers (1762-1796), with whom he had six children: Moses, Rachel, Samuel, Ellen, Solomon, and Caroline. With his second wife, Rebecca Myers, half-sister of Judith, he had seven more: Julia Judith, George W., Alfred, Augustus, Eliza Kennon, Emma, and Laura. The family papers are extensive. 

Mordecai visited his cousin Benjamin Myers, a merchant in New York City, before taking a steamboat up the river to West Point. He then had to take the three day entrance examination. Mr. Berard, the French teacher, told him that he did the best in the class on that exam [Abrahams, p. 81]. This is because his sister Caroline (1794?-1862) married a Gentile, Achilles Plunkett (d. 1824), a French planter from the West Indies, who had been a French teacher at her father's school and who continued the Warrenton Academy after the Mordecais moved to Richmond, Virginia.

"Alfred (1804-1887) attended West Point and became a career army officer. On June 1, 1836, he married Sara Ann Hays of Philadelphia and raised a large family, including Laura, Rosa, Alfred, Miriam, Augustus, and Gratz. He resigned his commission at the outbreak of the Civil War and refused to fight for either side, although there is evidence that his sympathies lay with the Confederacy.  He settled in Philadelphia near his wife's family." 
                                        [ http://cadmus.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/m/Mordecai_Family.html ]

Alfred Mordecai (C#326; died 1887, age 85), graduated first in the class of 1823 and taught at USMA the next two years. He was Assistant Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy, July 1, 1823 to September 1, 1824 and Principal Assistant Professor of Engineering, September 1, 1824 to July 12, 1825. He was also a member of the Board of Visitors in 1843. A southerner by birth, but having had a distinguished army career he felt that he could not fight in the civil war and so resigned in 1861 and retired to his home in Philadelphia to "support his family by teaching mathematics to a few pupils." (Cullum, p. 301).

Genealogy:

His son, also Alfred Mordecai (#1941), three g-grandsons John David Milley (#5584), William Maynadier Miley (#5992), and Charles Pelot Summerall, Jr. (#7452), as well as one g-g-grandson, John David Miley (#15998) are all graduates
 

Obituaries:  Nineteenth Annual Reunion, 1888, pp. 34-46.  [Have copy]


Manuscript Collections:


#847   MORDECAI FAMILY PAPERS:  Manuscripts Department Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Southern Historical Collection.
                             http://cadmus.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/m/Mordecai_Family.html

Here are a few particulars about the collection. 
 Subseries 1.3. 1820-1824
About 300 items.

Correspondence includes letters from Solomon while attending medical school in Philadelphia and from his brother Alfred at West Point, discussing their respective studies. 

Subseries 1.4. 1825-1838
About 700 items.

Topics of letters include: Alfred's life in the army and at the various places where he was stationed, including Fortress Monroe, Virginia; Washington, D.C.; Frankford Arsenal, Pennsylvania; and Troy, New York;

 


Alfred duPont letter (MS #0303)
One letter (April 27, 1844) from Alfred V. DuPont to Captain Alfred Mordecai (U.S. Ordnance Dept) discussing the
testing of an unspecified weapon. VMI Archives


Publications:

Ordnance manual, for the use of the officers of the U. S. Army. 1841. USMA has second edition. This is the first such manual published for the Army.  

References:

Abrahams, Robert D., The Uncommon Soldier Major Alfred Mordecai, Farrar, Straus & Cudahy, Inc., 1959. [Rickey owns a copy.]

Brody, Seymour [Sy], Major Alfred Mordecai: A Man. Torn Between Two Loyaltieshttp://www.fau.edu/library/brody16.htm .

Falk, Stanley L., "Alfred Mordecai, American Jew," American Jewish Archives, vol. 10, No. 2, October 1958, pp. 125-132.

Falk, Stanley L., "Divided loyalties in 1861: The decision of Major Alfred Mordecai," Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society (1893-1961); Sep 1958-Jun 1959; 48, 1-4; AJHS Journal pg. 146B. This reference, which is at the top of the printout I have does not make much sense to me.

Johnson, W., "Alfred Mordecai (1870-1887)," International Journal of Impact Engineering, 24 (2000), 843-869. [Source of reference: Historia Mathematica, 28 (2001), p. 64. Ordered ILL, 15 May 2001.]

Moten, Matthew, The Delafield Commission and the American Military Profession.

Padgett, J. A. (editor), ``The Life of Alfred Mordecai as related by himself,'' North Carolina Historical Review, 22 (1945), no. 6, pp. 59-108. Reference from Denton, p. 219 and 291.

 

Mordecai: An Early American Family. By Emily Bingham. (New York: Hill and Wang, 2003. Map,

Mordecai family tree, introduction, illustrations, afterword, notes, note on sources, acknowledgments,

index. Pp. X, 346. $26.00.)  Have copy of review by Dianne Ashton North Carolina Historical Review, Jan2004, Vol. 81 Issue 1, p104-105.


Paper file created.


30 June 2010. Working in Library of Congress Manuscript Room on Alfred Mordecai Papers, boxes 2, 7, and 17. I photocopied the Finding Aid.

Box 2 contains letters from 1806 June 26 till 1855 June 22. In 1943 they were bound in a large volume, each enclosed in some sort of protective material and opened flat and tipped in on the pages. I will only note letters of interest.

1823 Sept 14. To Mrs. R. Lazarus in Wilmington, North Carolina. The sheets of the letter are stamped 3 and 4. His sister. On his way back to WP he got sick in NYC with "ague & Fever" but at WP "Professor Douglass was so good as to offer me a room in his house, where I could be more comfortably lodged and nursed than in Barracks"."You ask about my duties; they are quite easy, keeping me employed only two hours in the marning in instructing a section of 15 in Philosophy; the rest of the time I have to employ in most part as I shll think fit, it will be principally devoted this year to studying the same subject, together with some Mathemaitcs &c; as for literature, it will not occupy much of my attention just now; when I shall have laid in a pretty good stock of Science [the word is underlined], as a basis for it, it will be time enough to think of making that [word underlined] a study & for sciencde now is my time; I shall easily find oportunites however to read the works of the day, as the new novels, &c. & you have given me literature [underliend] enough. He notes that he has helped his father translate some Latin.


Box 7. 1790 Nov 4 to 1833 August 24. A bound volume like the previous one.

1821 April 26. Alfred at WP to his sister Ellen Mordecai in Richmond, VA.   He feels inadequate as a letter writer. "But "the durm beats Tattoo" & "the shrill squeaking of the ury-necked pipe disturbs my cogitation, I must therefore extinguish my light & deffering the conclusion of my letter until tomorrow, perhaps to throw myself into the arms of somnus." The next day, after complaining that he must snatch time from his duties to write, he adds: "That you may not be tempted to throw down my letter in disgust I will tell you in hopes of rousing your attention that your brother is this year to display his Mathematical acquirements {underlined} to a numerous board of the most able men whom our country produces in almost ever branch that is studied here. The most distinguished I believe, are Gen^l Bernard, Col. Totten, Professor Adrain, Knox, Renwick, &c. But although the Examinations are productive of good consequence in inducing man to apply themselves yet to those who have other & more powerful stimulants. [I can't follow this, but I feel that I have transcribed it correctly] I regard it as a mere matter of form as to the effect produced in the standing which is I think previously pretty nerly determined." This is on sheets 38 and 39.

1821 August 28. Ellen M in Spring Farm to AM at WP. He wrote her from Baltimore and Philadelphia. Glad you enjoyed your vacation; now get back to your studies.

1821 September 25. AM at WP to his sister Ellen in Richmond. He wrote to many after he returned to WP but she is the first to respond. "Having of late disclaimed all connection with the military part of this Institution, I should speak in more civic [underlind] terms at present but old habits cannot be dropped suddeenly. You ask about my class or as it is called my section of the class; at first I was completely discouraged at the obstacles which presented themselves, but after getting a little accustomed to her the most ridiculous answers given to my questions, I managed to keep my paticence tolerably well & to say "it's all wrong" & "no. Sir" with a good deal of indifference; yesterday * we the Acting Assistant Professors of Mathematics * [underlined between the *s] had a consultation with the Professor , & discussed the comparative merits of the young gentlemen who are for the present arranged according to our decision: "what a consequential person he's becoming" they all say? fortunately however my own [underlined] opinion of my importance is I think too just to let trifling horours affect it,& the call for Church service very oppartunely reminded me that I am at last subservient to some other will than my own, for I assure you that it is far from my wish to go & hear a poor drawling sermon on an hours length . . . " From p. 42.

[[[   Continuing work in the LC Manuscript Room, Friday, July 2, 2010, my last day in DC.

1821 December 26. AM at WP to his sister Ellen in Richmond, VA. Sheets 44 and 45. "Here little has occurred since I last wrote worthy of notice. The fate of the cadets who were [can't read one word] in the afairs which have lately made so much noise, is not yet decided but we expect to know it soon; last night a party in a state of intoxication (for all excesses are overlooked on holidays) attacked the prison which is the next room to mine, & beat down the door to the room but did no further damage. No one was confined at the time & this was merely for "the good it has done". On Christmas eve there was an entertainment of a more rational kind. There is a society among the cadets called the Hydermalian [?] society who assist with music at divine service; their members assisted by some of the other cadets got up a kind of melo-concert consisting of songs and recitations & as there are some very good singers in the corps, the performance grave great satisfaction."

1822 January 26. AM to his sister Ellen in Richmond, VA. Sheets 46 and 47. He is making plans for his sister to visit West Point. "I could fill sheets in praise of this "Gibraltar of the West."" No perhaps they are just considering a visit. "The Semiannual Examination will [be] done in a day or two; my share in it both as respects myself and my pupils [word underlined], has passed off perfectly [underlined] to my satisfaction; I used to consider the January Examination as an obstacle which interrupted in some degree my prospects; now I have only to look straightforward to June, through the dense medium of Newton's great work, "The Principia," which I shall immediately be engaged in studying."  "A Journal of the court-martial of the cadets will accompany this." Discussion of a march to Boston.

1822 July 5. AM in Raleigh to his sister Mrs R. Lazarus in Wilmington.  Sheets 50 and 51. He arrived in Raleigh yesterday with his brother Moses. I have become a favorite of Henry (a child of Moses) by showing him how to shoot his gun. Spring-Farm is home for AM. This is full of news of family and friends. I did not see any names I recognized.  

1822 August 31. AM at the "Military Academy" to his sister Mrs. Rachel Lazarus in Wilmington, North Carolina. Sheets 52 and 53. "I am now comfortably fixed here again & shall make a strong attempt to-morrow at recommencing study, in which I hope to succeed, notwithstanding my late habits of idleness." Upon his return he learned of the death of Cadet Overton who had just arrived and so AM did not know him, but "I have just arrived in time to follow him to his grave."

1822 October 26. AM at WP to his sister Ellen Mordecai in Richmond Virginia (so this is not Mrs. Lazarus, another sister). Sheets 54 and 55. After noting that someone has resigned [it is not clear if it was a fellow cadet] he adds: "I cannot say that I am tired of the life but I assure you that I shall hail with the greatest pleasure the day that will deprive me of the "honorable title of Cadet." "  "General Macomb left here last night having been on his annual visit of inspection to the Academy in the capacity of A. A. P. M. I had the honor [underlined] of dining with him the other day."

1822 November 31. AM at WP to his sister Ellen Mordecai in Richmond, VA. Sheets 56 and 57. After ending by offering his affectionate love to "our dear parents and friends" he adds "The servants are not forgotten." No real info here.

1822 December 9.  AM at WP to Mrs. Rachel Lazarus in Wilmington , North Carolina. Sheets 58 and 59.  "not the least of the advantages which I have derived from my residence here [is] that of having been necessitates to learn how [underliend] to study & thought I believe an opinion which I heard expressed to day, "that more scientific works are gone over [two words underlined] at this institution than at any other perhaps in the world in the same course of time; to be nearly corect, yet I think that greater benefit is derived from the facilities afforded for pressing such studies hereafter than from the quantity of them which if retained the time of graduating; & I often think with regret on not having attended to the advice which my kind instructors, & none more than yourself, my dear Sister, so often gave to occupy, not time, but thought [underlined] on the subject of my pursuits." Next he writes of an awareness of recent graduates whom he knew succumbing to disease on the southern coast.

"We are beginning to make preparations for an examination also [he has just written of an exam of a class of school kids; he knows the teacher]; the semiannual one commences accordingly to our regulations on the fist of January; I have happily arrived at that period, when we begin to get rather "insouciant" about these things & feel sufficiently confident in myself not to dread the consequences: & look on it's approach with pleasure, since I shall then be entitled to say "thee is but one more." for this, you know, is [underlined] a desirable thing to a person in my situation, notwithstanding the unpleasant feelings which the arrival of that period will bring with it."

1823 March 2. AM at WP to his sister Rachel Lazarus at Wilmington NC. Sheets 60 and 61. "The situation which I now hold may possibly [underlined] induce the Superintendant if he has occasion for my services next year, to retain me; in this case if I might be of some service to Washington there would make less objection to [can't read] so young; I do not wish you to rely on this however. He mentions, as he has before, several books he has read including The Pioneer and They Spy, both by the same author. "I spent the last evening (as I frequently do my Saturday evenings) with the Professor of Mathematics; a very intelligent & scientific gentleman, who was on the Expedition with Governor Cass (of which Schoolcraft has pretended to write a journal); the conversation turned on the subject of the degree of civilization [words obscured] Indians; the Professor showed me the fac-similes of a [words obscured] with it, answer; which had come into their possession. Two tribes after a long far fare being desirous of a place & fearing the consequences to any of their people who should go as embassadors [sid]; one fo them contrived to empress their wishes on birch bark by means of emblems not entirely arbitrary nor yet exactly resembling picture-writing, but attempting for the understanding of them, on the conventional signs & emblems of their chiefs & on the natural say [words obscured] the Indians; this letter was placed in a [can't read] place of  [words obscured] wishes, & some of that tribe by whom it was sent. ... " I am having trouble understanding this.

1823 May 24. AM at WP to his sister Ellen in Richmond. Sheets 62 and 63. Wrote to you "by Mr. Crozet" with a letter for Papa. "I was not able to say any thing with certainty as to the result of my Examination in Engineering, which had just concluded; but I can now inform you with confidence & I might add in confidence, if there were any probability of the news returning to W. Point, for it has not been officially communicated, that my friend & room-mate, Greene & myself were adjudged to be equal & first in the Class & also to be much superior to any others, with which result I am much pleased both on his account & my own, & I will say with candour, that, though I have never before been coupled with an equal (of my present [underlined] class,) this is perfectly just; so much for self." He hopes to be home this summer but "our Superintendant finds, or thinks he finds it necessary to be so dark with respect o his intentions &c that there is no getting any thing out of him." 

He mentions the three Miss Kinsley's, otherwise known as the "Wood-nymphy" who live about a mile away. They are "rather pretty, somewhat rustic" and "the only society of young [underlined] females which I have the pleasure to frequent." Again he asks to be remembered to the servants.

1823 July 4. Sheet 64 [unnumbered] is his WP diploma! Signed by S. Thayer, J. Mansfield, Charles Davies, W. Worth, Claudius Berard, Thomas Picton, D. B. Douglass A.M. Prof^r Civ & Mil Engineering, JOhn Torrey and Thos. Gimbrede.

1823 August 31 AM at "West Point" to his "dear Sister" Ellen Mordecai in Richmond, VA. Sheets 65 and 66. He reports on his journey back to WP. Met a couple of French officers in NYC who spoke "little or no English, on which occasion, as you may suppose all our French was brought into requisition; I acquitted myself ``\`a l'ordinaire, c'est \`a dire, \`a merveille." ". GEN Macomb was on the packet from Norfolk. AM had a fever on the voyage. He saw his friends Richards and Green in NY; Green is on his way to France; Green at his side in WP. Genl Swift came up to the point in the boat with me although he did not recognize me until we were almost at WP. "Address you know as formerly with the substitution of Lieut. for Cadet." is at the end.

1823 October 24. AM at WP to his sister Ellen in Richmond, VA. Sheets 67 and 68. No info.

1823 October 27. AM at WP to his sister Ellen. Sheet 69. He sends two pictures that he obtained from Bache, who sends his regards. You will recognize "the likeness of our sage Franklin"; the other image is unknown. These have been transferred to Prints and Photographs 6./23/1950.

1823 November 23. AM at WP to his sister EM in Richmond, VA. Sheets 70 and 71. No info.

1823 December 23. AM at WP to his sister EM in Richmond, VA. Sheets 72 and 73. No info.

1823 December 28. AM at WP to his sister Rachel Lazarus in Wilmington NC. Sheets 74 and 75. Mentions his sister Julia. They only get mail 3 times a week [just in the winter?].

1824 January 10. AM at WP to his sister Ellen in Warrenton [Raleigh is crossed off] NC. No info. He does not mention what he is doing at WP.

1824 April 12. AM at WP to his sister Ellen in Warrenton NC. Sheets 78 and 79. Something sad happened in Warrenton. "Mamma tells me" --- this is the first mention of any letter from one of his parents.

1824 May 7. AM at WP to sister Ellen M in Warrenton. Sheets 80 and 81. He mentions that he has been reading L'Hermette de la chauss\'e d'Auten. This indicates that he must be quite familiar with French. He quotes several lines so his sister must read French also. He responds to a question his sister asked about a self registering thermometer, explaining how it works.

1824 August 12. AM at Niagara Falls to his sister Rachel Lzarus in Wilmington, NC. Sheets 82 and 83. He has letters for General Porter who was at the Battle of Fort Erie. He mentions passing thru Black Rock, but no mention of the Davies kin.

I am stopping here because I did not see any more letters from West Point and, more importantly, it is now noon and I need to leave and teach.

 



Box 17. Nothing of interest in this box.