The Opelousas courier., 1893-03-11
Gen. Beauregard.

Gen. Beauregard,
New York Herald, Feb. %.
In the death of Gen. Gustave Pierre
Toutant Beauregard the South has lost
one of its most famous soldiers, IL mar
who during the late war became an
idol of its people and has lost zone of
his prestige since. Although Il grad
nate of West Point, being second in q
class of forty five that comprised such
distinguished officers as Gems. Nc
Dewell, A. T. Smith. Granger, Barney
and McKinstry, of the Federal army.
and Gems. Hardee, Wayne, Edward
Johnson, Reynolds, Trapier and Sib-
ley, of the Confederate army, his life
was uneventtul until 1861, when
the breaking ont of the Mexican war
afforded scope for the display of the
rare engineering and strategical quail
ties that distinguished him throughout
his subsequent career, Brevet follow
ed brevet as u reward for his ~gallantry
upon the field, and when he returned
to his home in New Orleans the young
lieutenant of 1888 was known thrd9sgh-
out the army as the brilliant Major
Beauregard.
1t is related of him in illustration of
his almost uncomfortable taste for mil
itary things, even at an early age, that
the sight of a passing soldier or the
beating of a drum would so excite and
carry him away that he would forget
everything parental admonltions,
boyish pHtaymates and even hunger
in order that he might enjoy the pleas
ure of following either or both. Al
the early age of eleven years the resi-
dent teacher Of the household consid-
cred him sufficiently prepared to &C
through that touching ceremony in the
Roman Catholic Church, the ehildren's
first communion. The appointed day
having arrived, young Beauregard
with his family, seated in one of the
front pews of the old St. Louis Cattle
dral, awaited the moment when ht
was to approach and kneel at the al
ter. Suddenly the roll of a drum re-
sounded through the edifiee. The
child was already on his feet and NOV
ing up the broad aisle, bat he stopped
hesitated, aud as the inspiring notes
became more distinct, fairly turned
his back pom the alter and dashed on
of the church. No stronger proof thar
this could be given IF the bent of hi
character.
PERSONAL RECoLLECTIONS.
As history hat recorded most of th,
important vents in his military Gu
reer, my aim will be to draw an out
line of the man rather than of the Off
eial, and as | daily saw him in the ia
miliar relations of a personal abide
camp from the beginning until the en'
of the val.
In common with many of the plant
ers of South Carolina, l had responde'
to the request of Gov. Piekens an
carried to Morris Island forty of m,
negroes for work in constructing bat
~teries. Being the owner of one haI
of Chisholm's Island, l plainly sal
that whoever commanded troop
around Charleston harbor would b
obliged to communicate with his sub
ordinates by means of boats. | there
fore rendered to the Governor my ow
and the service of my boatmen, wit
the understanding that | should hav
a military position, so that in tn
event of capture / should be regarde
: as a prisoner of war. ~Beauregard ha
arrived in Charleston that very da,
and learning the facts the offer Wa
promptly accepted, and the plantt
tkns changed into the soldier.
The new elieftain was then forty
:. three years of age, and though not y
| draped in historic robes, somethln
: about his personality showed him
be al once "A model soldier and a fiji
ished gentleman. The figure, sma
but compactly knit together, the coul
tenance with its broad brow, tt
. mouth firm and shaded by u heav
. black mustache, the chin full of eou
age and resolution, the eyes larg
dark and dreamy, save when the Ugh
9 ing Instincts were aroused; the lrt
: nerve Of The man indelibly impresst
upon every feature, the compiexit
:, brunette, almost resembling bronze, g
1 these characteristics reminded II
a French marshal of the Empire TO Il
very life. About him was an air
r grave, high bred politeness and cour
q " simplicity. He was free from affe
tatlon and assumption, and accesslb
to the humbIest soldier. Among Il
9 privates assembled for daty at the CT
. Of their state were planters and so
n of planters, some of them the wealt
lest men 10 South Carolina, dilIigent
working side by side with their slave
r. There we're boys aud gray boards, q
N heirs of ancient names who had liv
5, in luxury from childhood, and the u
te lettered IONS of toll, students a
r plowmen, rosy checked urchins a
IT erizzled seniors, yet among them
= Beauregard moved with a kindly IA
% simple bearing that showed him to
- bv birth aud habit the true gentlema
% FRIENDLY WITH HIS SOLDIERS.
Later in the war he made hims
popular among the private soldiers
20 mingiing with them when net on du
Ia eonversiug with them and lighting
III cigar at their camp fires. In this r
pect he resembIed the officers of
81, First Napoleon, who, having establit
4. ed this sympathy, knew how to use
Of when striking their hardest blows.
to The following is an incident
n point: While at Centreville a priv
q soldier belonging TO a company of c.
alry that served as the Generals be
guard entefd ~Beauregard's apartm
A and began writing a letter, as he 8
,er posed, at the desk of one of the cler
"a HEARING a step behind him, he turf