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Civil War Archive of Telegrams Sent to Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard. ... (Total: 2 Items)
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Civil War Archive of Telegrams Sent to Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard. An archive of seventy-seven telegrams dated March 19, 1861 to April 22, 1865, addressed to Beauregard. Thirty-seven have hand-written responses from Beauregard. Thirty-six telegrams to Beauregard are laminated and twenty-one of these have handwritten responses from the general. Documents are written in pencil and ink and measure 7.75" x 5".Following the secession of seven states in the spring of 1861, Beauregard became the first Confederate general officer on March 1. He immediately took command of South Carolina forces and oversaw the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Although Beauregard was generally successful in the early battles of the war, he clashed repeatedly with Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his fellow Confederate commanders. As a result, Beauregard was transferred to the Western Theatre to oversee troops in Tennessee and Mississippi. In spite of his new position, he continued to quarrel with the Confederate leadership, leading to a series of demotions throughout the war. Beauregard fell back into favor by 1864 and directed the defense of Petersburg, Virginia.
The telegrams featured here offer valuable and wide-ranging content on Confederate military strategies, troop movements, and supply distribution. The collection features missives sent by at least four different Confederate governors.
Telegrams from the first year of the war reflect the states' efforts to raise enough troops and move them to strategic locations. A message sent on February 18, 1862 from Tennessee Governor Isham G. Harris to Beauregard read, "Inform me at the earliest moment the plans adopted & movements contemplated that I may rally all the Tennessee forces possible. I will go with them myself."
Five days later, Louisiana Governor Thomas O. Moore offered his state forces, writing, "Will you accept the Louisiana Legion infantry, artillery and cavalry under the act of 21st August entitled an act to provide for local defense & special service. The conditions to be that they are mustered in to assist you in rebelling invasion of Mississippi Valley but if New Orleans is attacked by land or water they will be immediately sent back to defend their homes. I think you can get the entire legion on these terms." Beauregard responded, "I accept subject to your condition -- contact requires approval of President. I have telegraphed for it."
On February 28, 1862, Moore again messaged Beauregard, writing, "Are you authorized to take any troops under Act 21st August. Are you authorized under that act to specify the length of time for which you will take them. If you are please state shortest time. I am doing everything I can... Answer quickly...it is useless to expect more men." Beauregard replied, "Will accept all good equipped troops under Act 21st August, that you will offer and for ninety days. Let people of Louisiana understand here is the proper place to defend Louisiana. G.T. Beauregard."
On April 30, 1862, Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus inquired about the allocation of troops, writing, "I have ordered Col Neils Regt. to Vicksburg from Grenada. There are two other regiments at Grenada & two are there [at] Mobile & Ohio RR at Saltillo & West Point convenient to Columbus. Shall I [send] a regt. to Columbus from Grenada or from one of the points on the M & O RR." Beauregard disagreed, responding, "Send from Grenada if there be not already a regt. at Columbus. Gen. Bragg has this day telegraphed you for 3 regts. Here-send the best -- you need not send one to Vicksburg -- other dispositions are being made. G.T.B."
Beauregard responded from his headquarters in Corinth, Mississippi, where Union troops had besieged the city only the day before. Federal soldiers under the command of Major General Henry Halleck assaulted the city for one month until it fell on May 30, 1862. Beauregard's loss of Corinth resulted in his dismissal from his position as commander of the Western Theatre.
After the fall of Corinth, Pettus worried about Union troops approaching nearby cities and appropriating raw materials. On May 5, 1862, he wrote, "The revival of trade at New Orleans by the Enemy by means of the cotton on the river and railroads should be prevented. Would it not do well to give order at once to the Commanders of Posts here, Vicksburg and Natchez to destroy cotton. A.K. Farrar at Natchez; Col. J.L. Aukey, Vicksburg; Col. P.B. Starke at this place, in conjunction with use, can organize parties to carry out order into execution." Beauregard agreed and responded, "Cols...in conjunction with the Gov. of Miss. will forthwith burnable (along Miss. Rivers and RR) cotton likely to fall into the hands of the enemy along rivers and railroads."
Three days later, Pettus grew increasingly anxious about the impending assault on Vicksburg. On May 5, he wrote, "Enemy gunboats past... this evening. Three o'clock no ammuntion [sic] for the guns at Vicksburg have yet been rec'd. Shall I direct the removal of the guns." Beauregard countered, "Ammuntion [sic] has been ordered. Col Aubrey must judge when to remove the guns. They must not be allowed to fall into enemy's hands -- have them ready to be removed to Jackson at a moments notice."
Less than two weeks after Pettus sent this telegram, Union troops led by General Ulysses S. Grant besieged Vicksburg. Located at a strategic spot on the Mississippi River, Vicksburg was a critical point that connected the eastern Confederate states to the western states. Lincoln believed that the capture of Vicksburg was key to a Union victory in the war. On July 4, 1863, Vicksburg surrendered to Union troops after a forty-seven-day siege on the city.
Beauregard continued to receive telegrams from across the Confederacy. On March 14, 1865, Major General Arnold Elzey telegrammed his superior, writing, "As the Light Batteries of the Army of Tennessee were ordered by you to remain here and as Col. Brents directs me to remain here until further orders, please telegraph me on the subject of the artillery and my position, whether I am to remain here long or to go forward."
Beauregard replied, "Inform him that Genl. Johnston orders that these Light Batteries not brought on here & not required for defense of Augusta -- be collected at Macon -- where Genl. Elzey will establish his Hdgtrs. & reequip his Batteries." Beauregard hoped to reserve troops to protect Georgia cities from Union Major General William T. Sherman's Georgia Campaign.
On April 22, 1865, Beauregard received a telegram from Virginia Governor William Smith inquiring about the payment of his soldiers. Smith wrote, "There are tithes of tobacco here and other public stores in effect abandon to destruction. Authorize me to take possession of them to pay arrearages to soldiers & Co." Smith sent the missive on the first day of a four-day armistice between Union General William T. Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. The latter formally surrendered on April 26.
This lot offers rare and comprehensive insight into the tactical and logistical movements coordinated by one of the Confederacy's most decorated generals. There are four additional telegrams including an April 12, 1861 telegram to Alabama Governor John A. Winston, the same day that Fort Sumter was bombarded.
Condition: Documents creased along folds. Several items have separations along folds and closed tears. Some have pencil notations. Multiple telegrams have archival tape to the verso, keeping the items intact. Laminated items exhibit complete separations, heavy staining, and paper loss.
Auction Info
2023 September 21 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6272 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
September, 2023
21st
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