March 31, 1862: Robert E. Lee to P. G. T. Beauregard

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.

Telegram 3-31-62 Lee to Beauregard 10 mp

Transcript:

Corinth Miss 31 1862

By Telegraph from Richmond 31 1862

To Genl G T Beauregard

Genl Hawes & Brown are with the command of Genl AS Johnston. Col R. B. Lee on way to you. Capt Waghler ordered 24th July to you. An artillery officer will be sent.

R E Lee

31 Pd

Note: Another hand has crossed out “Waghler” and wrote in pencil at the bottom “Wampler—Engrs,” perhaps the Confederate engineer John Morris Wampler, 1830-1863.

 

Citation:Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), telegram to G.T. Beauregard. Richmond, 31 March 1862. In The telegraphic history of the Civil War, 1861-1865. AMs 434/16

March 26, 1862: John Henry Brown’s Journal

John Henry Brown was a painter of portrait miniatures, living and working in Philadelphia. He had met Lincoln in August of 1860 when he was commissioned to paint Lincoln’s portrait for a supporter, but although Brown liked Lincoln personally, he did not agree with Republican policies.

1862-03-26

Transcript:

At Mrs. Newbolds picture.  The Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia has been under discussion in the Senate of the United States for some days, thus are we gradually uniting the South against us & dividing our own people of the North.

 

Citation: John Henry Brown, autograph journal/account book. Philadelphia, 1844-1890. AMs 573/14.1

March 25, 1862: W. A. Hunt to Thomas Jordan

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.

AMs 1168-11 1862-03-25

  Transcript:

By telegraph from Memphis 25, 1862

To Col. Jordan

[tenn] cast need shell for twenty four & thirty two rifled guns.

W. A. Hunt

 

 

Citation:W. A. Hunt, telegram to Thomas Jordan. Memphis; 25 March 1862. AMs 1168/11

March 24, 1862: John Dahlgren letter to Senator John P. Hale

John Dahlgren was the head of ordinance for the Union through the Civil War. John P. Hale was a Republican senator from New Hampshire.In this letter Dahlgren addresses the question of whether Ordnance should be a Bureau or a Directorship.

March 24th, 1862

The Hon. J. P. Hale

Chairman Naval Affairs

U.S. Senate

Dear Sir: In reply to your enquiry concerning the expense of a Directorship of ordnance,I have the following:

If the Directorship is authorized, then the Bureau will be abolished.

The differences of expense will be in favor of the change:…

…If the Washington Yard be converted into an Ordnance Yard, then the salary of a Commandant ($3500) will be spared. And the officers of the yard will become attached on Ordnance duty, which will increase the force and improve the efficiency of the organization.

So that there will be an actual economy so far as cost is concerned, and an organization substituted in every way more conducive to the direction of the affairs of Ordnance.

I am very truly

Yr Obed. Ser,

Jno A Dahlgren

Citation: Washington Navy Yard, Records 1859-1862. AMs 1202/11

March 21, 1862: Robert E. Lee to P.G.T. Beauregard

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.

Telegram 3-21-62 Lee to Beauregard 10 mp

Transcript:

March 21 1862

By Telegraph from Richmond 18 1862

To Genl Beauregard

Col R. B Lee & Col Wm H. Jackson have been ordered to you as requested.

R.E. Lee

Genl

 

Genl

The above messages were received this evening at Grand Junction from the office of Tustumbia where they were recd by mail. The lines east not working.

Yours

Jas H. Henderon

Gov”t Opr.

 

Citation:Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), telegram to G.T. Beauregard. 21 March 1862. In The telegraphic history of the Civil War, 1861-1865. AMs 434/16

March 20, 1862: New York Herald

top for web

Transcript (excerpt):

Page 1, Lower Half

General Burnside’s Report,

Headquarters Department of North Carolina

Newbern, March 16, 1862

General L. Thomas, Adjutant General United States Army:-

General – I have the honor to report that, after embarking the troops with which I intended to attack Newbern, in conjunction with the naval force, on the morning of the 11th, a rendezvous was made at Hatteras Inlet. Flag Officer Goldsborough having been ordered to Hampton Roads, the naval fleet was left in command of Commodore Rowan. Early on the morning of the 12th the entire force started for Newbern, and that night anchored off the mouth of Slocum’s creek some eighteen miles from Newbern, where I had decided to make a landing. The landing commenced by seven o’clock the next morning, under cover of the naval fleet, and was affected with the greatest enthusiasm by the troops. Many, too impatient for the boats, leaped into the water, and waded waist deep to the short, and then, after a toilsome march through the mud, the head of the column marched within a mile and a half of the enemy’s stronghold, at eight P.M., a distance of twelve miles from the point of landing, where we bivouacked for the night, the rear of the column coming up with the boat howitzers about three o’clock next morning, the detention being caused by the shocking condition of the roads, consequent upon the heavy rain that had fallen during that day and the whole of the night, the men often wading knee deep in mud, and requiring a whole regiment to drag the eight pieces which had been landed from the navy and our own vessels.

Citation: New York Herald, 20 March 1862. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .N56792

March 19, 1862: John Henry Brown’s Journal

John Henry Brown was a painter of portrait miniatures, living and working in Philadelphia. He had met Lincoln in August of 1860 when he was commissioned to paint Lincoln’s portrait for a supporter, but although Brown liked Lincoln personally, he did not agree with Republican policies.

1862-03-19

Transcript:

At Mrs. Newbolds picture. 

If the newspapers are entirely truthful, then our Arms are almost daily crowned with success.

 

Citation: John Henry Brown, autograph journal/account book. Philadelphia, 1844-1890. AMs 573/14.1

March 15, 1862: Telegram to Generals Polk and Beauregard

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.

AMs 1168-11 1862-03-15

Transcript:

Memphis, Tenn,  March 15. 1862

By telegram from Humboldt March 15, 1862

To Genl Polk + Genl Beauregard

Just sent following from Memphis.

New Madrid evacuated Thursday night

Fighting Thursday between artillery Confederates got best of it

Information read that night of Siegel’s arrival with forty thousand reinforcements Jeff Thompson passed through lines and brought information. Confederates decided to evacuate. Portion went up to island 10 part do so to Tiptonville. Small arms + most ammunition saved. Artillery lost. 9 confederate transports at island our gun boats at Tiptonville. Enemy below Point Pleasant on west Bank.

Kater

Opr

Citation:Kater, telegram to Leonidas Polk and G. T. Beauregard. Humboldt.,15 March 1862. AMs 1168/11

March 14, 1862: M. Harris telegram to G. T. Beauregard

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.

AMs 1168-11 1862-03-14

Transcript:

Mch 14 1862

By Telegraph from Union City 14th 1862

To Genl Beauregard

Am just from Hickman the line from this place in such bad order I could not report from that place six gunboats. Iron clad four transports three tugs & two mortar boats landed there this evening at 4 P.M. One Regt was ashore but none of the gun boats had passed below that place.

M. Harris

Govt Telegh Oper.

 

Citation: M. Harris, telegram to G. T. Beauregard. Union City, [Ga.?]; 14 March 1862. AMs 1168/11