140. WILLIAM PORCHER MILES (1822 - 1899) Confederate Congressman and military officer, served as a colonel on Beauregard's staff, and prior to the war was mayor of Charleston. Rare, fascinating content war-date A.L.S., 3pp. 8vo., Richmond, Mar. 4, 1864 to South Carolina Gov. Milledge Luke Bonham, inferring that James Seddon was fixing the cotton trade! In part: "...I send you a letter from Major Bayne (in charge of the general subject of the exportation of Cotton)...[I] do not think that any insidious distinction has been made between any of the states...Messrs. Furman and Porter...got the impression - certainly erroneous - that Mr. [James] Seddon has somehow or other played false with them. It is a pity that none of us know the connection of the Navy Dept. with the matter. Mr. Seddon should have mentioned it...allow the state a share of such trips as the War Dept. controlled...It seems strange that the Gov't agents at Wilmington...should not have explained to Mr. Furman that Wilmington and not Richmond decided whether a particular trip was the property of (or could be assigned by) Mr. Mallory of Mr. Seddon...I would write you something of the last raid upon Richmond...which produced no little excitement..". Miles' letter intimates that Seddon and Mallory were able to control which cargoes of cotton received naval escorts, putting them and their associates at a tremendous advantage over competitors. It's no secret that Seddon had a large stake in cotton plantations. $600 - 800