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:
Jackson Mch 6 1862
By Telegraph from Holly Spgs 6 1862
To Genl Beauregard
Do you know Capt W. W. Helm? brother of C. J. Helm—I am suspicioned here as a spy please answer.
W. W. Helm
Ans
Consul Helm’s brother I saw at Manassas I consider true to our cause.
G.T. Beauregard
Citation: W. W. Helm, telegram to G. T. Beauregard. Holly Springs, [Miss.?], 6 March 1862. AMs 1168/11