Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893 to Mrs. O. W. Lebert

General Beauregard, Commander of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, writes to Mrs. Lebert in Alabama, on "the 158th day of the siege" (referring to military activity in Charleston Harbor). He relates that he transmits photographs (not included), and hopes to receive photographs of Mrs. Lebert and Octavia in return. Refers to Captain B., who regrets not being able to return to Mobile, Alabama. He reports that the ship Monitor sank in the Charleston Harbor during a gale two nights before. Referring to the Monitor as the "Weehawken," he writes "Only 28 yankee liver men lost on board of the Weehawken... Satan allowed the other to escape- they certainly belonged to him! This, Mrs. Lebert, may appear cruel to you- but when I see that vile inhuman race firing nightly their destructive shells into a harmless city filled with women & children- my blood fairly boils within my veins, & I regret not to have the power of Heaven to crush at the elbow the whole of that barbarous nation! Can there be a punishment too severe for such outcasts of society? The fire of the infernal regime alone can purify them!" He relates that his son (possibly Henry Toutant Beauregard) recently returned from Dalton (possibly Georgia), and on the way was nearly captured by Union soldiers with the men he commanded. He sends his regards to Dr. Lebert.