Morse describes his departure from Fortrep Monroe. He went on a steam boat up to Norfolk, took prisoners, then went down to Hampton Road on the way to Fort Delware. He described the process of getting on the enemy's boat, capturing prisoners, rushing the weapons, and threatening to 'blow their brains out' if they resisted. No blood was shed. Men guarded the boat's captain, pilot, and engineer. Morse called someone a coward, but their name was cut out from the letter. They marched all night and hid during the day. The entire event was called "The Maple Leaf Affair." The file also contains a note from Wyland Browne, from Johns Hopkins University, to Morse, from May 23, 1899. The note states that the article "The Capture of the Maple Leaf" appeared in the Southern Magazine of September 1871. There is a statement that Morse can find a copy in the Library of Congress or Browne may try to find him a secondhand copy.

Morse's location: near Richmond, Virginia.