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:
Columbia 12 Feby 1865
To Genl Beauregard
Orangeburg office just closed 12:30 P.M.= Enemy effected a crossing of river mile below Orangeburg=Telegraph between Florence & Charleston out of order might get some cipher messages through to Charleston via Branchville before Enemy gets possession of telegraph.
Truly Your obt svt
G.A. Ellsworth
Mil Operator
PS Since writing the above line has failed below Kingsville-It may be Genl Stevenson saving Telegraph Wire
Citation: George A. Ellsworth, telegram to G. T. Beauregard. Columbia, Ga.; 12 February 1865. AMs 1168/11