Beauregard and McDowell On the Passage of Col. Thomas H. Taylor with Dispatches from President Davis to President Lincoln

CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA FROM APRIL 16 TO JULY 31, 1861

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. – UNION

O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, pp. 738

Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
Manassas Junction, Va., July 7, 1861.

Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell,
Commanding U. S. Forces, Arlington, Va.:

Sir: The bearer, Col. Thos. H. Taylor, is sent (with an escort of twelve men and an officer, under a flag of truce) as bearer of dispatches from the President of the Confederate States to the President of the United States. He is instructed by the former to deliver his dispatches in person to the latter, and to return with the answer. His escort will await his orders.

I remain, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. T. BEAUREGARD,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Hdqrs. Department Northeastern Virginia,
Arlington, July 9,1861.

General McDowell presents his compliments to General Beauregard, and begs to inform him that the paper referred to in his note of the 7th was delivered to the General-in-Chief, and by him transmitted to the President. When an answer shall be received from the latter it will be duly forwarded. In the mean while Colonel Taylor is instructed by the General in-Chief to return this morning.