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 proclamation is dated June 1861
Transcript:
A Proclamation
To the good people of the Counties of Alexandria, Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William
A reckless and unprincipled tyrant has invaded your soil. Abraham Lincoln regardless of all moral, legal and constitutional restraints has thrown his abolition hosts among you, who are murdering and imprisoning your citizens- confiscating and destroying your property and committing other acts of violence and outrage too shocking and revolting to humanity to be enumerated. All rules of civilized warfare are abandoned and they proclaim their acts, if not on their banners, that their war cry is “Beauty and Booty.” All that is dear to man- your honour and that of your wives and daughters- your fortunes and your lives are involved in this momentous contest.
In the name therefore of the constituted authorities of the Confederate States- in the sacred cause of Constitutional Liberty and Self Government for which we are contending- in behalf of civilization and humanity itself- I, G. T. Beauregard Brigadier General of the Confederate States commanding at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, do make this my Proclamation, and invite and enjoin you by every consideration dear to the hearts of freemen and patriots- by the name and memory of your Revolutionary fathers and by the purity and sanctity of your domestic firesides- to rally to the standards of your State and country and by every means in your power, compatible with honourable warfare, to drive back and expel the invaders from your land. I conjure you to be true and loyal to your country and her legal, constitutional authorities and especially to be vigilant of the movements and acts of the enemy so as to enable you to give the earliest authentic information to these Head Quarters or to the officers under my command. I desire to assure you that the utmost protection in my power will be extended to you all.
G. T. Beauregard
Brig. Genl. Comdg.
Citation: G. T. (Gustave Toutant) Beauregard (1818-1893) Proclamation: manuscript signed. Manassas Junction, [June, no day], 1861. AMs 356/6