May 24, 2014: J. T. Coldwell telegram to P. G. T. Beauregard

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:

Dated Richmond May 24 1864

Rec’d at Chester 1864

To Genl Beauregard

The operator at Goldsboro has charge of the office at that point and cannot be spared at this time but I will take great pleasure in sending you one to-day equally as good.

J. T. Coldwell

Supt. C S Mil Tel Lines

Citation: J. T. Coldwell, telegram to G. T. Beauregard. Richmond, 24 May 1864. AMs 1168/11