HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK ON PETERSBURG REQUESTED BY P. G. T. BEAUREGARD IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE RECORD

P.G.T. Beauregard was Brigadier General of the Confederate Provisional Army (1818-1893) who commanded the forces at Charleston, where he ordered the bombardment of Fort Sumter.  Offered here is a handwritten endorsement in pencil, signed “G.T.B,” on the final page of a three page manuscript diary extract written by Major Giles B. Cooke covering the period of 15-18 June 1864, which provides detailed information on the defense of Petersburg. Also included is an autograph letter signed from Giles, one page, both sides, 5 x 8, dated March 17, 1874. Giles writes, in part: “Your favor of 12th inst. enclosing a paper from Genl. Alexander and a report from Col. Roman reached me yesterday. I send you extracts from my diary relative to the matter in question, which according to my promise should have been done before. I may have told Col. Roman about Genl. Lee’s saying that he hoped God Almighty would save Petersburg, but I do not remember using such an expression, and there is no mention of it in my diary. Again the Colonel says – the Major and I parted – he “swearing” that he would induce Gen. Lee to send you troops. I might have declared very strongly – but am quite sure that he is mistaken about my “swearing.” However, these are minor points – and as to our versions of this particular part of the history of the defense of Petersburg, there is no discrepancy.” Selections from the enclosed account read, in part: “Wednesday, June 15 – About 12:30p.m. was sent into Petersburg by the General (Beauregard) <from Dunlop’s house on Swift Creek> to advise Genl. Wise that Hoke’s Division and Johnson’s Brigade had been ordered to reinforce him. The enemy commenced advancing on the City about 10 a.m. Was engaged all the afternoon bearing order for the General.” Thursday, June 16: “Was then sent to look for the Chf: of Arty, and then joined the General – at the Custom house. Was sent by the General about 9:45 a.m. to telegraph Genl. Lee for reinforcements, as the enemy was pressing us in heavy force. “Friday, June 17: “Hearing heavy firing in the direction of Johnson’s Division, just as I reached the heights, I rode at once towards the Hd: Qrs: of Genl: Johnson. As I was nearing his Hd: Qrs: I met Wagons, Artillery, a few officers perfectly panic struck, the Officers crying as they rushed to the rear, that “our men are falling back, our line is broken” or some other nonsensical expressions. When I was within a short distance of Gen. Johnson’s Hd Qrs:,I had the misfortune of being knocked off my horse by six or eight artillery horses that were frantic with fear, rendered so by the bursting of a shell in their midst which killed two of them. As the horses struck my horse, I rolled off, and my poor horse was knocked, and, I presume, run over by these wild horses. Ran back some distance endeavoring to get my horse but did not succeed, then went forward to Genl: J’s Hd; Qrs: on foot. For six mortal hours, Johnson’s Division was … pressed by the Yankees. Our two Divisions, Hoke and Johnson, held at bay for six hours, three Yankee Army Corps,( Hancock’s, Burnside’s and Baldy Smith’s.)- for about one hour of the six hours referred to, the enemy firing was perfectly terrific. We were driven back some two or three times, but our men rallied and drove the Yankees back in their turn.” Saturday, June 18: “Genl. Beauregard sent me at 1 a.m. to Gen; Lee to ask for reinforcements. Rode about 17 miles in about 2 hours and after talking with the General (Lee) for some time and accomplishing , in part, my object in seeking him, I left for Petersburg… I called at Genl: Anderson’s Hd:Qrs: at the Hancock House, to tell him of my mission to Genl: Lee and to impress him with the importance of having some of his troops ready to march to General Beauregard’s assistance. On my return, called at Genl: Anderson’s again, and joined Kersham’s Division of his Command that had been ordered by Genl: Lee to proceed at once to Petersburg. Reached Petersburg about A.M. at the head of Kersham’s Division, after posting which repaired to my Quarters for rest.”

At the conclusion of the account, Beauregard writes, “M.B. Kersham’s Division did not get into position until about 10 10 h. A.M.-a short while before the Enemy commenced their last determined efforts.” Beauregard has also made several pencil notations to Giles’s account as well. Also, at the top of the Giles’ letter, Beauregard has written, “Please return, G.T.B.”

All pages are housed in a black linen folding case, with a black morocco spine, and gray morocco lettering pieces. In very good to fine condition with uniform toning to pages, a bit of scattered light soiling, intersecting folds to a couple of pages, and a few ink spots.

This incredible and historically significant account details the famed Confederate leader’s role at the Battle of Petersburg, one of the key conflicts of the Civil War. It is on these pages Beauregard’s thoughts and actions come to life. The Battle of Petersburg represented Uysses S. Grant’s best chance of a significant victory in his 1864 campaigns in Virginia. On June 15, the first date referenced in the diary, Beauregard only had 2,200 Confederate troops at Petersburg – a number too small to withstand a determined Union attack. Acting on instinct, Beauregard mustered around 10,000 men, a small percentage of the 50,000 Northern troops. However, the Southerners presented a strong defense, and when Union forces attacked late in the afternoon of June 16, “…as the enemy was pressing us in heavy force”, many Union veterans were increasingly unwilling to go forward until reinforcements had arrived. It was a fortunate turn of events for the South, permitting Beauregard to continue requests for support from Lee. A mere 1,200 men arrived – compared with a Northern defense that numbered nearly 70,000 men. “We were driven back some two or three times, bur our men rallied and drove the Yankees back in their turn,” this diary notes of the June 17 fighting. By June 18, Lee had become convinced of “the importance of having some of his troops ready to march to General Beauregard’s assistance” prior to, as Beauregard writes, the time “the Enemy commenced their last determined efforts.” In fact, when Grant’s troops discovered Confederate trenches that had been abandoned overnight, they halted their assault. By the time a new attack could be organized, Lee had over 40,000 men in the Petersburg line – more than enough to defend them against any Northern attack by a now exhausted army.

A simply amazing and historic contemporaneous account of one of the most consequential battles of the Civil War, with Beauregard, himself, setting the record straight.