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:
April 18th 1862
By Telegraph from Iuka 18th, 1862
To General Beauregard
Col. Holmes’ command was turned over to myself on the evening of the 16th instant with one half of the Regiment. I reconnoitered in the direction of Tuscumbia yesterday and night came in collision with their pickets two miles from same, lost one man don’t know the effect of our fire did not get into town from best information they are in force another regiment came in last night, two regiment of Infantry came into Florence yesterday they pressed and have in service seven hundred negroes repairing bridges Rail Roads and communications from Decatur to Tuscumbia is completed. There is a vague rumor from Florence that the Decatur bridge had been burned.
J. W. Griffith
Commdg
1st Ky Cavalry
Citation: J. W. Griffith, telegram to G. T. Beauregard. Iuka, Miss; 18 April 1862. AMs 1168/11