Sixth plate ruby ambrotype copy of a photograph of General Beauregard wearing a federal dark blue double-breasted frock coat with brigadier general's shoulder straps. Housed in a Union case.

RARE: We have not seen another example of this pose of the Confederate general.

General Beauregard attended the US Military Academy at West Point graduating in 1838 and serving thereafter as an engineer officer in the United States Army during the Mexican American War. Upon the secession of his home state of Louisiana, however, he resigned and joined the Confederate States Army, becoming that force's first brigadier general. As such, he led the attack on Fort Sumter on 12 April 1861, starting a Civil War that would drag on for more than 4 years. He served the entire war, most notably leading the defense of Petersburg, VA from Union troops in June of 1864, which bought the Confederacy time before the conclusive fall and surrender of Richmond. After the war, Beauregard returned to Louisiana where he became a successful businessman, first working in the railroad industry, and then making his fortune as a supervisor of the Louisiana State Lottery Company.