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Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant) (1818-1893) to John L. Manning

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00028 Author/Creator: Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant) (1818-1893) Place Written: Centreville, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 January 1862 Pagination: 3 p. ; 21 x 18 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses prospects for a battle before the spring, and is doubtful one will occur. Discusses both their health. Discusses officers in and out of camp. Mentioned are Beauregard's chief of staff David R. Jones, staff member John S. Preston, Confederate General Earl Van Dorn, Confederate General Bushrod Rust Johnson, Confederate Brigadier General Edmund Kirby Smith, and Union General George McClellan. Beauregard was commanding general of the Potomac District, Department of Northern Virginia, at the time of this letter.

John L. Manning served as Governor of South Carolina before the war.

Centreville. Va Jany. 11. 1862.
Dear Govr.
Your kind letter of the 27th inst. was received this Janr a few days ago - he immediately went to work with a will, & I have no doubt will give entire satisfaction - I hope it will be mutual - He tells me that your brother got sick in Richd and did not come any further for the present - I hope it will not be serious. I am a little unwell myself [inserted: with] a slight touch of the jaundice, a prevailing complaint here - I have no time however to get sick for we may shortly have a battle on hand, altho' I begin seriously to doubt it, before Spring.
[2] I hope then to have you here before would be unnecessary I think - altho' you would always be welcomed - Dr. Choppin is still absent - Van Dorn has been ordered to Richd. for Missouri I suppose - he is quite a loss, as well as Sam Jones, who left today - I begin to think that ere long, Johnson, Smith & myself will be left alone in our glory - I hope McClellan will be generous towards us then -
I regret much to hear of the Governor's vascillations! Oh! for a Jackson at the head of affairs! I hope Chesnut will succeed with his Regt. I would like to have him here - Where is Col. Preston? We have not heard from or of him in a long time -
[3] Excuse my handwriting for I write at 2.40 -
Hoping yourself & family are all well. I remain
as ever Yours very truly
G.T. Beauregaurd

Gov. Jno. L. Manning
Homerby near Manchester
S.C.

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893
Manning, John Laurence, 1816-1889
McClellan, George B., 1826-1885
Jones, David Rumph, 1825-1863
Preston, John Smith, 1809-1881
Van Dorn, Earl, 1820-1863
Johnson, Bushrod Rust, 1817-1880
Kirby-Smith, Edmund, 1824-1893

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