Confederate Lt. General Richard Taylor was the son of President Zachary Taylor. By 1864 he was in command of the Department of Alabama and Mississippi.
Transcript:
Received at Montgy Nov 22 1864
By telegraph from Mobile 22 Nov To Lt. Genl. Taylor
F P E T C X X V N – N T H A – N Y T F M V F X L – J G M G M – report attack on Mobile in contemplation – force at Pensacola now to be P Z E T H – F N Z Y K E I L – & more expected my scouts report large encampment recently set up near Fort Morgan – R K I V C O Q Q – T C K X N – O P C M – F V G P T A G N I I B U – reserves militia or other L P E R – T P D T – T J – I P N A K U Z V – my – C H T Q R E . U O I O N V T Z – now – N M N F – F N Z Y K E I L – C G R – V G I V F N – P M Z L O – is it possible to get militia from Gov Clarke of Mississippi – Will you go to O G H F X G C –
D H Maury
Maj Genl
9?n 1840 Q B
(Decoded)
Deserters from Farragut’s fleet report attack on Mobile in contemplation_ force at Pensacola now to be Eight thousand, and more expected_ My scouts report large encampment recently set up near Fort Morgan_ Prudence urges that reinforcements – reserves, militia or other sent here if possible_ My effective total now four thousand and eighty eight_ Is it possible to get militia from Gov Clarke of Mississippi? Will you go to Georgia?
(sgn) D H Maury
Maj Genl _
Mobile, Nov 22, 64_
To Lt. Genl R Taylor
Montgomery, Ala
Citation: Dabney Herndon Maury (1822-1900), telegram to Richard Taylor. Mobile, Ala.; 22 November 1864. In The telegraphic history of the Civil War, 1861-1865. AMs 434/16