AThis casual remark by a General Beauregard got poor Paul Morphy in all sorts of trouble. Northern rumor-mongering newspapers got too far ahead of their own “rumors” about Paul Morphy and had him working on the staff of BOTH Beauregard AND Johnston, while Morphy's friends in Europe are actually reporting he's (secretly slipping around a blockade) and on his way to Europe! Reported arriving in Havana, Cuba just a few months later.
The Daily Delta New Orleans, Louisiana Wednesday, April 23, 1862 - Page 2 — The Battle of Shiloh - A Night of Anxiety — “Thus the night passed—a night of continual rain. We were aroused before daylight by a rapid and irregular fire, extending along the whole line and over the whole area occupied by our troops. We soon learned that this was the firing of our own men, whose guns had become wet and foul from exposure during the rain. We now proceeded to the front, to learn what was to be the order of the day. Repairing to the headquarters of Gen. Beauregard, we found that ever cool and vigilant chief sitting in front of one of the enemy's tents, with his aids, Col. Jacob Thompson, Col. Jordan, Col. Chisholm and several of his staff. The General was receiving reports from couriers and scouts. It was obvious that he intended to renew the fight. It was cheering and inspiring to observe his calm self-possession and thoughtful precision and alertness. There came to him every minute the most conflicting accounts of the enemy's movements. First, it was reported the enemy was flanking our right. The General quickly gave an order to send a brigade in that direction. The order had hardly issued before another courier contradicted this report, and stated that no enemy was visible in that direction. The General, smiling, remarked to one of his aids: “This is one of Morphy's blind games. I wish I had him here to help me play it out.”
The Battle of Shiloh: A Night of Anxiety 23 Apr 1862, Wed The Daily Delta (New Orleans, Louisiana) Newspapers.com
Great London Chess Meeting. 07 May 1862, Wed The Derby Mercury (Derby, Derbyshire, England) Newspapers.com
The Derby Mercury Derby, Derbyshire, England Wednesday, May 07, 1862 — Great London Chess Meeting. —We would remind our foreign friends intending to play in the various tourneys connected with the pending chess festival… Anderssen, from Breslau, has promised to attend; and, unless Morphy runs the blockade from New Orleans in safety, is not unlikely to carry off the first prize.—Bell's Life
Paul Morphy. 14 Sep 1865, Thu The Evansville Daily Journal (Evansville, Indiana) Newspapers.com
Northern rumor-mongering newspapers got too far ahead of their own “rumors” about Paul Morphy and had him working on the staff of BOTH Beauregard AND Johnston, while Morphy's friends in Europe are actually reporting he's on his way to Europe!
Mr. Paul Morphy 26 Sep 1862, Fri The Nottinghamshire Guardian (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England) Newspapers.com
Reported arriving in Havana, Cuba just a few months later.
Morphy In Havana 13 Nov 1862, Thu The Leavenworth Times (Leavenworth, Kansas) Newspapers.com
The Chess Establishment does not want you to know, that during this time, some in the Northern United States were crying out for the execution of Paul Morphy!!!! for things he had never done. Their newspaper rumors got so far ahead of the truth, they were tripping over their own wagging tongues. Out of political prejudices, they unleashed a flood of patently false rumors about Robert Fischer too.
