(1826 - 1879) Confederate lieutenant general and only son of President Zachary Taylor, serving first as a brigade commander in Virginia, and later as an army commander in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. Taylor commanded the District of West Louisiana and was responsible for successfully opposing Union forces during the Red River Campaign of 1864. Fine military content, war-date A.L.S., 3pp. 8vo., [n.p.], July 23, 1862, to an unnamed superior officer, in part: ‘I cannot procure a carriage at this moment, to wait on you. I have seen Col. [uncl.] and am pleased with the result of our interview. He is undoubtedly the best man to send with his Regt. for the reasons mentioned last night. This would leave the 5th 6th 7th 8th and 12th Regts. here. Three of these the 6th, 7th and 8th are now with [Stonewall] Jackson, and only one Regt. viz the 7th would have to be moved from there to carry out the plan suggested last night, adding the 5th & 14th to that command in its place. [Brig. Gen. Harry T.] Hays might go to La. [Louisiana] as the Brig. and [later Brig. Gen.] Alfred Cumming… the brigade here. Hays is well enough to travel and time might be saved in this way, and time is important for us in La. I will wait on you as soon as I can get transportation. The more I think of it the more importance I attach to sending a Brig[adier] at once to my old Brigade. Could not [then Brig. Gen. Wade] Hampton be sent for the moment?’ He signs boldly ‘R Taylor’ in black ink at the conclusion. Expertly inlaid onto a page featuring a portrait engraving, faintly toned and showing a small chip to the right edge of the first page, otherwise in fine condition overall.