Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant) (1818-1893) to Daniel Harvey Hill

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03013 Author/Creator: Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant) (1818-1893) Place Written: Virginia Type: Letter Date: 21 May 1864 Pagination: 3 p. : 20.5 x 25.2 cm. Order a Copy

Clerical copy of a letter by Beauregard, with Beauregard's signature attesting that it is a "true copy." Beauregard informs Hill that President Davis refuses to assign him to command until Hill makes "the application for orders in the field", which he has already refused to do. (See GLC 00864-Beauregard's request to have Hill transferred, with Bragg's and Cooper's responses). Also relates that General Bushrod Rust Johnson has been promoted to command the Second Division and General Robert Frederick Hoke will command the First Division. Writes "It is useless, I hope, for me to say how I regret loosing your Services in command at this juncture, but I hope you will continue to lend them to me as a vol-aid. I will entrust you with the charge of visiting daily the lines to see that evry officer is at his post & everything in its place..." Mentions Colonel Harris. Beauregard endorses the letter as "a true copy." Written at Hancock's House. See GLC00864 for a related document.

Hancock's House Va
May 21" - 1864
In front of Bermuda Hundred
My Dear Genl
The dimunition of Brigades in this Army has rendered it necessary to reduce the Divisions to two instead of three, & the President, refusing to have you assigned to command unless you make the application for orders in the field - which you have refused to do - Genl B.R. Jhonson has been promoted to command the Second Division, [2] Genl. Hoke commanding the first.
It is useless, I hope, for me to say how I regret lo[struck: o]sing your services in command at this juncture, but I hope you will continue to lend them [inserted: to] me as a vol-aid. I will entrust you with the charge of visiting daily the lines to see that every officer is at his post & everything in its place. The extent of the line will have to be divided, by Col Harris, between the two Divisions, [3] according to their effective strength & features of the ground; the Col will be instructed to advise with you on the subject.
These changes must not take place until to-morrow, should the movements of the Enemy Permit.
Yours very truly
Signed G. T. Beauregard
Lieut. Genl. D.H. Hill
Comdg. Div
on right wing.
[docket]
A true copy
G.T. Beauregard

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893
Hill, Daniel H., 1821-1889
Johnson, Bushrod Rust, 1817-1880
Hike, Robert Frederick, 1837-1912

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources