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 is one of approximately 1000 military telegrams in P.G.T. Beauregard’s papers at the Rosenbach.
Transcript:
By telegraph from Richmond 29 To Jno M Oley A.A.G.
Every effort is made to accomplish the end we repaired the wire between Augusta & Macon & recd & sent a few messages on the 18th but since that some storms have blown it down. We are expecting momentarily communication to be restored between these points I am informed by letter dated Decr the 5th from [Jas Supp?] that he has a strong force at work on the line between Opelika & Atlanta the enemy have stripped the country of means of transportation & taken away the labor & we find it more difficult than heretofore to make repairs promptly the railroad being destroyed for such long distance the hauling of supplies is attended with delay. Respy
Wm S Morris
Presdt
Citation: William S. Morris, telegram to John M. Oley. Richmond; 29 December 1864. AMs 1168/11