ABoth Robert James Fischer and Paul Charles Morphy rose to great status as American chess icons and some of their own country-men maliciously turned against them with orchestrated campaigns of defamation, stalking, spying and slander motivated by their political prejudices. When our champions refused to advocate those political agendas, the history books were rewritten and attempts to write them out of history and defame their character. We were raised to believe in America you have the right to dissent, but do celebrities have that luxury? Did Fischer or Morphy? What really happened after the close of the Civil War? Did Morphy by some inexplicable mystery “malady” fade into obscurity? Or, as the record shows at the close of the Civil War, Morphy made quick work to get back to his chess business as usual, but certain former Northern associates close to the Federal government had no intention of allowing him to do that! Why were these details erased by the chess establishment in their books and magazines? After 1865 had passed, things would eventually grow much worse for Morphy as his enemies would not let him rest. During the decade of 1873-1884 a long, drawn-out campaign of vicious defamation, targeting Morphy began with some going so far as to hint at an ‘untimely death’ for Morphy. Publications with a touch of foul “comedy” making light of Morphy's “accidental” death appeared regularly in papers. Harmful rumors, targeting the state of Morphy's mind played a regular part in syndicated news reports. Such publications flooded American newspaper, only for the contagion to later spread to Europe by Morphy's political rivals. Numerous efforts were made by Morphy's family, friends and associates to put a stop to the public defamation, but to no avail. Numerous cruel reports of his death surfaced in the newspapers while he yet lived in New Orleans. He was hounded, and persecuted, and forced into retirement. He died at a relatively young age, under mysterious circumstances in 1884.
The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, July 12, 1865
Among the passengers from New Orleans by the steamship Evening Star, arrived today, is the famous chess player, Paul Morphy. He is in excellent health, and talks about going abroad.
Chicago Tribune Chicago, Illinois Friday, July 14, 1865
Paul Morphy, the celebrated chess player, has turned up at Washington. He has been a rebel during the war. (Again, they repeat those absurd, Northern rumors, spread by political fanatics.)
The Times-Picayune New Orleans, Louisiana Thursday, July 20, 1865
Our accomplished young townsman, Paul Morphy, the chess king, is announced as having arrived at New York on the 8th inst.
Quad-City Times Davenport, Iowa Friday, July 28, 1865
Paul Morphy, the chess player, is in New York, playing chess with his old associates. It will be remembered that he was a “bitter secessionist,” and on a recent visit to Washington his former friends let him know that they remembered that fact, by “cutting” him so dead that he left in disgust, completely “checkmated”.
Paul Morphy, the Chess Player 28 Jul 1865, Fri Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa) Newspapers.com
The Atchison Daily Free Press Atchison, Kansas Monday, August 21, 1865
Paul Morphy, the champion chess player, is in New York, preparing an annotated volume of his games. It is denied that he was a member of Beauregard's staff.
The Charleston Daily Courier Charleston, South Carolina Friday, September 01, 1865
Paul Morphy, the chess player, has arrived in this city, from New Orleans. He comes to super-intend the publication of his new book of games.
Bangor Daily Whig and Courier Bangor, Maine Saturday, September 02, 1865
Paul Morphy is preparing a standard work on chess, with a collection and analysis of his own games. It will supercede Staunton's and Lowenthal's works on the game. Paul says he has been and is loyal.
The Louisville Daily Journal Louisville, Kentucky Tuesday, September 12, 1865
The Round Table states authoritatively that Paul Morphy, the chess king, was never on the staff of General Beauregard, and was never a secessionist nor a secession sympathizer. We are glad to know that the report of Mr. Morphy's disloyalty, that has been so extensively circulated, is unfounded.
The Bradford Observer Bradford, West Yorkshire, England Thursday, October 19, 1865
Mr. Paul Morphy, the celebrated chess-player, has returned to New York from Paris, and it is his present intention to prepare an annotated volume of his most successful chess games. Our informant says, it must not be inferred from this that Mr. Morphy has given up the practice of the law, as he prides himself more upon his proficiency in that than in chess. He was for some time a member of one of the first law firms in New Orleans, and will shortly open an office in New York.
The Richmond Times Richmond, Virginia Wednesday, December 13, 1865
The original Chess Club of New Orleans has been re-organized, and Paul Morphy chosen President.
