War-dated ALS signed, “G.T. Beauregard, Gen. Comdg,” one page, lightly-lined, 8 x 10, March 13, 1862. A tremendous Civil War relic! In this letter, Brigadier General Pierre G. T. Beauregard (1818-1893), the first prominent general of the Confederate Army, outlines for Louisiana Governor Thomas Overton Moore an imminently important point: Grant must be defeated in Tennessee in order to save Louisiana. With the capture of Forts Henry and Donaldson in early 1862, General Halleck turned his attention to the seizure of Corinth, Mississippi. He ordered U. S. Grant to proceed up the Tennessee River, debark at Pittsburg Landing, and link up with Buell’s Army of the Ohio before proceeding overland to Corinth. Meanwhile, after being furnished with reinforcements from the Governor of Louisiana, Beauregard concentrated his force at Corinth with the goal of attacking and destroying Grant’s force before Buell arrived.
Dated March 13, 1862—not even a month before the start of the historic conflict at Shiloh and the day that command of the army was once again given to Grant—Beauregard writes in part: “I am happy to hear of the success of our appeal to my native state. I hope everyone within its limits will become convinced that here is the true place to defend New Orleans and the State; defeated here, the River would be opened to the Enemy gunboats, which would soon be at New Orleans! Whereas victorious here, we would keep away from Louisiana the horrors and destructions of War. We are organizing our forces as rapidly as possible; but we are much in need of good General officers to assist us in that organization. I regret also to state that my health still unfits me for active participation in the field – Still hopeful however.” The prestigious and important confederate strategist closes the note with a potent, “G. T. Beauregard, Gen. Comdg” signature, and in fact, all of the luminary’s penmanship remains bold. In fine condition, the page carries light intersecting mailing folds, and a few trivial spots of foxing; fine condition. Interestingly, after his defeat at Shiloh, New Orleans was taken on April 28th without a battle in a naval operation led by Union Admiral David Farragut. In fact, as Beauregard penned this very letter, Union General-in-Chief Winfield Scott devised the “Anaconda Plan” for defeating the South. As Beauregard soon discovered, Farragut’s operation was instrumental in setting the Confederacy back early-on in one of the nation’s greatest conflicts. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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