- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Location
- Central Massachusetts
After the occupation of New Orleans, a number of former officers of the Native Guard, Morrison included, offered their services to Gen. Butler. He authorized them to raise a regiment for U.S. service, mustered on September 2, 1862, as the 1st Louisiana Native Guard (U.S.). Morris W. Morrison was Lieutenant in Co. C. About 10% of the old Native Guard regiment enlisted in the new.
By the time Banks replaced Butler as Commander of the Department of the Gulf, there were three Native Guard regiments, each commanded by white field-grade officers, with colored company officers. Under orders from Washington, Banks began a campaign to purge them of non-white officers. Lt. Morris submitted his resignation.
Because of this history, Morrison has been claimed as “the first black-Jewish officer” in both the Confederate and the U. S. Army.” He was, however, never a practicing Jew, and was so light-complexioned that he could easily, and often did, pass for white. He later claimed his mother was “Spanish”.
I can learn nothing of his activities during the remainder of the war. Shortly after, however, he took to the stage as “Lewis Morrison,” first in New Orleans, later in San Francisco, and then New York. He played supporting roles at first, opposite such stars as Edwin Booth and Charlotte Cushman, and then increasingly important roles.
Lewis Morrison as Mephistopheles
Morrison also founded something of a theatrical dynasty. By his first wife, actress Rose Wood,he was the father of actresses Rosabelle and Adrienne Morrison. His granddaughters, Barbara, Joan, and Constance Bennett reached film and stage stardom. A great-grandson, obnoxious tv talk-show host Morton Downey jr, was known for other things.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Morrison
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/morris-morris-w-lewis-morrison-1845-1906/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/177874854/lewis-w-morrison
https://travsd.wordpress.com/2017/09/04/lewis-morrison-a-fascinating-devil/
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