PIERRE G. T. BEAUREGARD REPORTS ON THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER
A truly historic telegram sent by Gen. Pierre G. T. Beauregard to Confederate Secretary of War Leroy P. Walker describing the situation at Fort Sumter while the Union fortification was being bombarded from several directions by entrenched Confederate artillery. The 7 3/4" x 4 3/4" telegram is the original copy dictated by the sender, Beauregard, and was sent from Charleston on April 13th. It reads: "Officers quarters in Sumter burning. Part of roof supposed to have fallen in. Sumter firing at long intervals. Ours regular and effective. Six vessels outside, in signals with Sumter." A word count totaling "28" or "29" appears at the end of the text, indicating that this message may even have been sent via a commercial wire! A small insect hole at center affects two letters of text, else very good. Confederate troops, led by Gen. Beauregard, opened fire on Fort Sumter at 4:30am on April 12. Following a siege lasting 34 hours, the Union troops surrendered, giving the Confederacy its first military victory.