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:
Hd Qrs May 6 1862
Telegram from New Orleans May 5 1862 via Tangipahoa
To Genl. Beauregard,
We desire to know how matters stand with you, and how with the Government at Richmond. What of the battle said to have been fought on Peninsula? I am on the watch. Answer freely. Your dispatches will come to me quite safe.
Pierre Soule
All right here; hope to defeat the Enemy again soon. Nothing new from Richmond. No battle there yet of importance.
G.T. B
Citation: Pierre Soule, telegram to G. T. Beauregard. New Orleans;5 May 1862. AMs 1168/11