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:
Received at Weldon May 8 at 11 o’clock 15 minutes
By telegraph from Belfield May 8 To Gen Beauregard
The enemy have burned Nottoway bridge & are reported as retreating in the direction of Petersburg. I am afraid our troops there have suffered badly but have not learned particulars.
P. R. Page Col. Cmdg
Citation: P. R. Page, telegram to G. T. Beauregard. Belfield, 8 May 1864. AMs 1168/11
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