beauregard



General P. G. T. Beauregard // ...A writer, Civil Servant, and Inventor //   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb1FQEZmcvA  (Interesting video found on General Beauregard!) General Beauregard was born near New Orleans, Louisiana on May 18, 1818. He was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. in 1838, where he was best in areas of artillerymen and military engineer. After Louisiana seceded from the Union in January of 1861, Beauregard went with his home state, resigning from the United States Army. He was first commissioned as a brigadier general when joining the Confederate Army, eventually becoming one of the 8 full generals of the army. Beauregard's first action given by theConfederate Government was a post in Charleston, South Carolina. Here, on April 12, 1861 he opened fire Fort Sumter, which was Union held; this was regarded as the start of the American Civil War. General Beauregard also was involved in the First battle of Manassas, where he led some confederate forces successfully to victory. In 1864 he was appointed commander of Confederate forces in the West, where he fought less successfully to halt the advances of an intense Union army. Post war, Beauregard took the less traveled road of the high- ranking Confederates in supporting the civil and voting rights for the recently freed slaves. He also turned down offers to command the Romanian military in 1866 and the army of Egypt in 1869. His writings included The Principles and Maxims of the Art of War, Report on the Defense of Charleston, and A Commentary on the Campaign and Battle of Manassas. Having a bitter relationship with Jefferson Davis, he also published accusations against Davis blaming him for the defeat of the Confederacy, which was counter- accused by Jefferson Davis himself. He invented a system of cable- powered street railway cars when he became involved in railroading. General Beauregard died on February 20 of 189. Katie D.