Montgomery in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Telegram Which Began War Between The States / Winter Building
Photographed By Tim Carr, August 1, 2009
1. Telegram Which Began War Between The States Marker
The buildng behind the marker on the second floor was the location of the telegraph office from which the telegram was sent to Gen. Beaurgard giving him the order to fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston S.C..
Montgomery, April 11, 1861
General Beauregard, Charleston:
Do not desire needlessly to bombard Fort Sumter. If Major Anderson will state the time at which, as indicated by him, he will evacuate, and agree that in the meantime he will not use his guns against us unless ours should be employed against Fort Sumter, you are thus authorized to avoid the effusion of blood. If this or its equivalent be refused, reduce the fort as your judgment decides to be most practicable.
L. P. Walker
Sec. of War. C.S.A.
On April 11, 1861, Confederate Secretary of War Leroy Pope Walker sent telegram from second floor offices of Southern Telegraph Company to Charleston authorizing Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard to fire on Fort Sumter. Subsequent bombardment was first military action of War Between the States.
Building placed on National Register of Historic Places 1972, and restored in 1978.
Erected 1981 by Alabama Historical Association.
Topics and series. This
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Location. 32° 22.635′ N, 86° 18.522′ W. Marker is in Montgomery, Alabama, in Montgomery County. Marker is at the intersection of Dexter Avenue and South Court Street, on the right when traveling east on Dexter Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Dexter Ave, Montgomery AL 36104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Tale of Two Towns (within shouting distance of this marker); Rosa Parks Statue (within shouting distance of this marker); Rosa Louise McCauley Parks / The Bus Stop (within shouting distance of this marker); Lower Dexter Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Court Square Fountain (within shouting distance of this marker); City of Montgomery / Court Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Here Stood Mrs. Rosa Parks (within shouting distance of this marker); Decorative Lions Heads (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montgomery.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 8, 2014
2. Winter Building Marker (Reverse side of main marker)
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, July 8, 2011
3. Telegram Which Began War Between The States / Winter Building Marker
Winter Building with marker to the left
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, July 8, 2011
4. Telegram Which Began War Between The States / Winter Building Marker
Winter Building from across Court Square
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 20, 2015
5. Winter Building with marker to extreme left.
Downtown Dexter Avenue after renovation.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 17, 2009, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 3,393 times since then and 207 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 17, 2009, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 2. submitted on March 8, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3, 4. submitted on July 22, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 5. submitted on December 20, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
