The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-21
BEAUREGARD IS DEAD.
The Man Who Opened Fire on
Fort Sumter.
He Served His Country Well, and
Then He Served Against Her With
Even Greater Daring.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 20-General P. g.
T. Beauregard, one of the last Of the gen.
erals of the Confederate military service,
died tonight. The first symptoms of the
fatal illness manifested itself two weeks
ago, when he was attacked by a compiled
ton Of diseases, which threatened to result
in heart failure. He manifested some i'm
provement under his physicians care. par
ticularly in the last three or four days. when
he was able to leave his apartments and
take short periods of exercise in the grounds
of his residence. He dined with his family
this evening and remained In his library
until $50. He went to sleep easily and
seemed resting well. One of the nurses
went to his bedside few minutes after 10
o'clock and was horrfed to find him in his
death struggle. The members of the family
were summoned at once, but before they
reached the chamber the end had come.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday
Despite his advanced age. 70 years. Gen.
eral Beauregard has until recently led
life of considerable activity.
Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard was
born near New Orleans. La, on May IS,
1918. and was graduated second in class
rank from West Point in 1888. He was
assigned first 10 the artillery aud then to
the engineers. and in 1888 80 was assistant in
the construction of Fort Adams, at New
port He was then on engineering duty at
various places in the South until 1916, and
at the outbreak of the Mexican war was
engaged in the construction Of defenses at
Tampico. He served through with General
Scott in the operations from Vera Cruz TO
the capture of the City of Mexico, where ne
was twice wounded, and shortly afterward he
was brevetted major. attaining bis full rank
of captain of engineers on March 3. 1853.
for fourteen years of continuous service as
lieutenant. After the war he was again
assigned to the duty of experimenting the
construction of Notifications in the South,
being engaged on the defensive works at
New Orleans and In Mobile Bay, and as
constructing engine er of the cnstom-house
at New Orleans. His work was such as 10
famiiarize him thoroughly with the Gulf
Coast from the Florida Keys to the mouth
of the Rio Grande. On the 23d Of January,
1861, he was superior lieutenant of the mill
tary academy at West Point, but he held
the position only few days, resignng his
commission on February to enter the SER
vice of the Confederate States Government.
He was warmly welcomed, being placed in
command of the defenses at Charleston. S.
c., and upon the refusal OF Major Robert
Andersen to evacuate he began the bonn
bardment Of Fort Sumter On April II, 1861,
and thus actually opened the great
War of the Rebellion. After a cannOnade
of several hours, during which not single
life was lost on either side. Fort Sumter
with ammunition and provisions exhausted,
capitulated, and the garrison marched out
with the honors of war. Beauregard was
almost at once ordered to Virginia. where
he was practically in command at Bull Run,
though superseded at the last moment by
General Joseph K. Johnston. In 1862 he
was ordered to Tennessee as second in COM
mand to General Albert Sidney Johnston.
and when that officer was killed at the
battle of Shiloh Beauregard took command
and nearly succeeded in routing the Union
forces. The next day, however, Grant was
re-enforced aud Beauregard was compelled
to retreat falling back in good order to
Corintb, Miss, where he made a successful
defense until May %, when he evacuated
the place. destroying all his stores and re-
treating southwark along the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad.
His health failed after this campaign and
he was on leave of absence until August,
1862, when he was again placed in CON-
mand at Charleston with the rank of gen.
eral, and for year and half he defended
the place against the formidable siege of
operations under General Gilmore and
Admirals Dupont and DahlgreD. In May,
1864, when Grant was closing In upon the
defenses of Richmond, Beaureguard re-
enforced Lee, defeated Butler at Drury's
Bluff and held Petersburg against the
Federal advance. In October, 1864. he was
appointed commander OF the military d.
vision of the West and sent to Georgia to
resist the advance of Sherman. The at
tempt proved futile, and. joining forces
with General j. e. Johnston, Beauregard
surrendered. when that officer did In April,
1865.
After the war he became president of the
New Orleans. Jackson and Mississippi
Railroad and adjuian t-general Of the State.