MILLEDGE L. BONHAM (1813-1890) Confederate brigadier general who commanded troops on Morris Island at the beginning of the war, and a brigade at First Bull Run. In January, 1863 he resigned to become governor of South Carolina, after which he was reappointed to brigadier general and led a cavalry brigade in the Carolinas. War-date A.D. (unsigned) in pencil and ink on the verso of a telegram in a secretarial hand from North Carolina Gov. Zebulon B. Vance, 1p. 12mo., Columbia, Mar. 15, 1863. As Butler's assaults on the Outer Banks and North Carolina ports reach their peak, Vance offers optimistic news: "Genl [D.H.] Hill attacked Newbern yesterday & the fight was continued all day no particulars but hopes are strong of capturing the town. I go down this morning & will telegraph from Kinston..." On verso Bonham replies in a hasty hand in pencil: "Leave our river & [?] names & return to New [?]. Also leave out 2 [?] lines". He also dockets the telegram in ink: "Telegram Gov. Z. B. Vance Mar. 15/63 As to fight at Newbern". Toned spots and at margin, else very good. Actually, Hill failed to retake the town; it fell to Union forces the previous day and remained in their hands for the balance of the war. $200-300