G.T. Beauregard papers, 1861-1893.

ArchivalResource

Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893. G.T. Beauregard papers, 1861-1893.

G.T. Beauregard papers, 1861-1893.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/41867241

Chiefly correspondence re rations for troops, and orders re troops in Tennessee, Mississippi, and other Civil War operations and items re the military career of Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard in the United States Army and the Confederate Army. Invitation, 28 Mar. 1861, Charleston, S.C., to D[avid] Flavel] Jamison, re South Carolina Session Convention; letter, 10 Apr. 1861, Charleston, S.C. to Gen. Ro[bert] G[ill] M[ill]s Dunovant, Sullivan's Island, S.C., re preventing arrival of Union troop reinforcements to Fort Sumter, S.C., during the night, "Capt. Hartstein is going to light up the entrance of the Harbor with floating lightwood fires." Letter, 16 May 1861, Charleston, S.C. to F[rancis] W[ilkinson] Pickens, discussing a "list of the armament of the work already constructed for the defenses" of the S.C. coast, "from North Edisto to Broad River inclusive," an outline of plans for protection of Port Royal, S.C., expressing reservations about Beaufort's defenses, but states that existing works "will answer well against any naval expedition," and offering recommendations for garrisoning coastal defense installations. Letter, 9 Jan. 1862, "Near Centreville Virginia," to John A[lfred] Calhoun, Columbia, S.C., thanking him for his assistance "in setting me right before the people and convention," re defences of Port Royal, S.C., and impact its fall could have on his reputation, offering suggestions for defences intended to delay the advance of Union troops "for several months and compelled ... [the enemy] to fit out ... an expedition which cost ... over four millions of dollars," anticipating no attacks on Charleston or Savannah given the Union's sinking of "Stone fleets" that blocked the channels, anticipating small "marauding expeditions" and "attempt[s] ... to destroy the Rail Road between Charleston and Savannah," following the failure "to pass over us 'to Richmond' ... the plan ... may now be ... to cut ... communications." Proclamation, 31 Jan. 1863, issued from "Head Quarters Naval and Land Forces, Charleston," aannouncinga victory over the U.S. fleet by Confederate "Naval forces," and declaring "the blockade ... of Charleston to be raised ... after this ... day."; letter, 25 Apr. 1863, Charleston, S.C., to B. Duncan, Columbia, S.C., informing him that he did not have the authority to issue Mr. Marks a pass "which would be respected by conscript officers" and relating receipt of Lovell's correspondence, "I do not think the latter will injure him much in the estimation of all impartial minds." Letter, 22 Mar. 1863, Charleston, S.C., to Rev. Tho[mas] Symth, Charleston, S.C., crediting the Confederate military successes as equally due to both the "assistance & encouragement derived from the clergy & the Ladies as to the ability of our Generals & valor of our troops" and predicting that the end of "the bloody Drama of the Revolution" is near; later papers of 1880s discuss Civil War remembrances of the evacuation of Charleston, S.C., and Beauregard's economic circumstances. Letter, 25 July 1863, to Major Harris, with directions for locating "Rains' torpedos" [land mines] at Battery Wagner. Letter, 30 Nov. 1863, Summerville, S.C., from "Mr. Browning," reviewing a dispute with Capt. Zimmerman Davis about the impressment of Browning's horses for artillery service; letter, 14 Dec. 1864, Fort Sumter, Capt. T.A. Huguenin, to Col. A. Roman, report on conduct of Gen. [Roswell S.] Ripley while on a visit to the Fort. Two related letters discussing the deployment slave labor for construction of defenses, a plan unpopular among many citizens: letter, 27 Oct 1863, Columbia, S.C., from Gov. M.L. Bonham, and letter, 31 Oct. 1863, Charleston, S.C., from Col. D[avid] B[ullock] Harris to Gen. Thomas Jordan, discussing the "Negro Labor question" and complaints of "So many prominent and patriotic men" re impressment of slave labor, directed to Col. Harris with signed endorsements by Beauregard "for his information & action, also for ... remarks as will enable [me] to issue ... orders to correct ... the evils complained of ... Morris Island and Sumter were lost partly for the want of Slave Labor ... the City of Charleston may be lost also ... but negroes ... must be returned ... unless retained with the approval of their owners"; reporting on the number of slaves needed to complete the "works in progress, erect new ... and repair ... old ones ... "; suggesting changes in impressment procedures, with Beauregard's signed endorsement, " ... returned to ... Gov'r. Bonham for his information - the recommendation of Col Harris is approved ..." Letterpress copy of letter, 10 June 1872, New Orleans, La., to Gen. J[eremy] F[rancis] Gilmer of Savannah, Ga., requesting Gilmer to support Beauregard's recollection and writings re his activities in planning the defenses of Ft. Sumter in the summer of 1863, following a recent challenge to the veracity of those events by R[obert] B[arnwell] Rhett, Jr.; Beauregard recalls "the vital necessity of holding those ruins [i.e. Ft. Sumter] to the very last, until at least the inner harbour defenses should be completed, armed & equipped," followed by a detailed account of the situation within the Fort at that time. Resolution, 10 May 1893, re the creation of a bust in memory of P.G.T. Beauregard; and undated manuscript, Charleston, S.C., sent to P.G.T. Beauregard's family, re receipt of a sword signed by William A. Courtenay, William Porcher Miles, and others; and printed article, 1961, "The Beginnings of the Civil War," discussing the affair at Fort Sumter and Beauregard's part in it, including his General Order No. 14 of 11 Apr. 1861 and its significance as a military document.

41 items.

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