GENERAL PIERRE G.T. BEAUREGARD - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 05/25/1877 - HFSID 84842

PIERRE G.T. BEAUREGARD
Pierre G. T. Beauregard sends an autograph letter of regret that he will not be able to attend a dinner to honor the soldiers fallen during the Civil War.
Autograph Letter Signed: "G.T. Beauregard," 1p, 5½x9. New Orleans, 1874 May 25. To members of the Committee of Arrangement, Chattanooga, Tenn. In full: "I regret very much my inability to accept your kind invitation to the dinner given by the People of Chattanooga, on the occasion of the decoration of the graves of the Federal dead by the late soldiers of both Armies. I can, however, but approve of the fraternal sentiment which brings together former foes, to honor the gallant dead who lost their lives in the discharge of their duty." TWELVE YEARS EARLIER, IN THE SPRING OF 1862, PIERRE GUSTAVE TOUTANT BEAUREGARD (1818-1892) HAD BEEN ORDERED TO TENNESSEE AS SECOND IN COMMAND TO GENERAL A. S. JOHNSTON; WHEN JOHNSTON WAS KILLED IN THE BATTLE OF SHILOH, BEAUREGARD TOOK COMMAND, AND NEARLY ROUTED THE NORTHERN ARMY BEFORE BEING FORCED TO RETREAT TO MISSISSIPPI BY GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT'S REORGANIZED FORCES. A Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in January, 1861, Beaureard was reassigned less than a week later following his declaration that, should Louisiana secede, he would follow her. Louisiana seceded on January 26, 1861, and Beauregard resigned his U.S. Army commission to become a Brigadier General in the Confederate Army. He was in command at the bombardment of Fort Sumter, giving the order to fire on April 12, 1861, beginning the Civil War. At 1st Manassas (1st Bull Run), Beauregard had his horse shot out from under him, but gave the Confederacy its first victory.Letters of Confederate Generals concerning the war are extremely desirable.Fine condition..