Head Qr’s Military Division of the West, Jacksonville, Ala. October 17th, 1864. General Orders No. 1 [opening lines of broadside]

“Success will then surely drive the enemy from our soil…”

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A rare Confederate Alabama broadside, General Beauregard’s October 17, 1864 announcement of his assumption of command of the of the Military Division of the West, issued while Beauregard was headquartered at “Ten Oaks” in Jacksonville, Alabama. Beauregard was at Ten Oaks for only a few weeks. In part: “In assuming command of this important Military Division I enjoin on all officers and soldiers harmony, zeal, implicit and prompt obedience to orders, and confidence in themselves and their commanders; and success will then surely drive the enemy from our soil, and establish the independence of our country.”

On this same date, Beauregard also issued a Circular decrying the army of Sherman’s occupation and control of Atlanta and appealed for aid, fresh enlistments and the return of AWOL- soldiers to their respective commands.

“[Jefferson] Davis sent Beauregard to the western theater, on 17 October naming him commander of the Military Division of the West. He had the responsibility of overseeing all Confederate armies in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas. During the next several months, General John Bell Hood’s invasion of Tennessee was crushed near Nashville, and the troops facing Major General William T. Sherman’s Union armies in Georgia failed to halt the advance of those forces. Beauregard, in reality, could have done little to change these situations.” (ANB)

Beauregard was paroled after General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered on April 18, 1865 to Sherman’s army. Afterwards he returned to New Orleans. He is perhaps best known for supervising the bombardment of Fort Sumter and receiving its surrender of April 14, 1861.

Price: $1,250.00