Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard was a Louisiana-born general of the Confederate States Army. He had graduated second in his class from West Point in 1838 and was an admirer of Napoleon. He achieved fame early in the Civil War for commanding the Fort Sumter bombardment and as the victor of the first battle of Manassas. He later served in the Western Theater (including Shiloh and Corinth), Charleston, and the defense of Richmond, but his career was hampered by friction with Jefferson Davis and other generals.
This telegram is from The Telegraphic History of the Civil War; a compiled album of telegrams to Beauregard from Davis, Lee, Johnston and others.
Transcript:
Hd. Qrs. May 1st 1862
By Telegraph from Tangipoha 1st 1862
To Gen. Beauregard
Have ordered my a reg’t to Vicksburg. Must organize forces to keep enemy confined to New Orleans before it will leave Louisiana – we can’t handle them away from their vessels.
M. Lovell
28 pd
Citation: Mansfield Lovell (1822-1884), telegram to G.T. Beauregard. 1 May 1862. In The telegraphic history of the Civil War, 1861-1865. AMs 434/16