June 1, 1864: R. M. J. Paynter telegram 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 is one of approximately 1000 military telegrams in P.G.T. Beauregard’s papers at the Rosenbach.

Transcript:

Dated Richmond June 1^st 1864

Rec‘d at Hd Qrs

To Genl Beauregard

8 3” PM, The Oper[ator] from Ashland arrives at Hungary Station about Six O Clock. Reports Enemy occupied Ashland about fifteen 15 minutes after he left from the smoke he saw he supposed they were burning the place. Have heard nothing more from the Column vid Port Royal Since they were reported at Hanover Junction most of Column said to be NY vols newspaper Report Says Grant out of Rations nothing from Genl Johnston Army today.

Respy

R M J Paynter

Citation: R. M. J. Paynter, telegram to G. T. Beauregard. Richmond, Va.; 1 June 1864. AMs 1168/11