Confederate Commander at Charleston in April 1861 during the bombardment and capture of Fort Sumter! Fought at the 1st battle of Manassas, Va. in 1861
(1818-93) Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, of Louisiana Creole descent, was born at the "Contreras" sugar-cane plantation in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, 20 miles from New Orleans. He was the 4th highest ranking officer in the Confederacy, and graduated #2 in the West Point class of 1838. He was brevetted captain and major for gallantry in the Mexican War battles of Contreras, Churubusco and Chapultepec, where he was wounded in the shoulder and thigh. He was noted for his eloquent performance in a meeting with Commanding General of the U.S. Army, Winfield Scott, in which he convinced the assembled general officers to change their plan for attacking the fortress of Chapultepec. He was one of the first U.S. officers to enter Mexico City. He was in command at Charleston, South Carolina, on April 12, 1861, during the bombardment and capture of Fort Sumter, and he rose to instant fame in the Confederacy. The bombardment of the fort lasted for 34 hours, and after a heavy bombardment from batteries ringing the harbor, U.S. Major Robert Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter, to Beauregard on April 14th. He also saw action at 1st Manassas, Shiloh, the 1863-64 Charleston, S.C. campaign, Bermuda Hundred and Petersburg, Va. After 1st Manassas, Beauregard advocated for the use of a standardized battle flag other than the "Stars and Bars" Confederate national flag to avoid visual confusion with the U.S. flag. He worked with others to create what is now known as the Confederate Battle Flag. Throughout his career, Beauregard worked to have the flag adopted, and he helped to make it the most popular symbol of the Confederacy! Beauregard was a railroad executive in the 1860's and early 1870's and later served as Commissioner of public works in New Orleans, and Adjutant General of Louisiana. He died on February 20, 1893, at New Orleans, and is buried in the Tomb of the Army of Tennessee, in the Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Card Signature With Date: 3 1/2 x 2 1/4, beautifully signed in a large, bold ink hand, G.T. Beauregard, 1889. Two small mounting traces on the corners of the verso. An excellent and extremely desirable Confederate autograph that would frame or display very nicely! Comes with an old glossy, 4 x 5 1/2, black and white photograph of General Beauregard in uniform. |