Rare Yankee Intercepted Confederate High Command Cipher Telegram.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019

While ciphered Civil War telegrams are very rare in the marketplace; Confederate de-ciphered telegrams are almost unheard of. This cipher telegram sent by the Southern Telegraph Company was directed to Maj. General John C. Breckinridge, Charlottesville, Va., on June 15, 1864. The encrypted message, 1p. folio, was intercepted by a Union operator, deciphered and then forwarded to Brigadier General William Lewis James (1833-1903). The original sender's name remains encrypted, but the message is not and reads, in full: "What is the state of things in the Valley. Let me hear from you via Gordonsville. Sheridan's force has been driven back from this place by [Wade] Hampton. Nothing new from Richmond. Forrest has gained a considerable victory in the South west [battle of Brice's Cross Roads, June 10, 1864, where he gained a decided victory over nearly three times his numbers, is considered Forrest's greatest CW victory] & [John Hunt] Morgan [is] reported in Kentucky [considered his last "Kentucky Raid" which culminated in a victory at Second battle of Cynthiana, Kentucky on June 11, 1864] at or near Paris doing good work; M. L. G.; a. N.; HCFYO." Marked "duplicate" with partly-printed Southern Telegraph Companies receipt pasted at the top, while addressed: "W. L. James…Chief Q. M., Dept. of Va.", on the verso along with soldier-art of kepi clad soldier's head. Also, included is contemporary provenance noting that this telegram "came from the [Lt. John A.] Bodamer Collection. He was with the 24th N. Y. Cav. and served in the Valley. Probably picked it up somewhere…". (four pieces)

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