The Coolidge examiner., 1933-06-02

Davis and Beauregard early in the war More
than one historian has pointed out how Davis
suffered from the delusion that he was great
military strategist and he would brook no in
reference with his strategy Of wagng de
fensive war and trying TO defend every part Of
the far-hung empire of the South
In contrast TO this attitude was Beauregard's
desire for a concentration Of the Confederate
forces I'm the vitally important places and the
waging Of smashing offensive war which
would decide the issue as quickly as possible.
One of the most interesting "ifs" Of the Civil
war is what might have happened If this Creole,
reared in the Napoleonic tradition had been
given free hand from the outset There is
no doubt that he had In him the makings OF a
great soldier but he seems always to have just
missed success-whether because Of his own
shortcomings or because OF circumstances over
which he had no control 1t is difficult to say.
Beauregard was born a plantation in Loui.
siana just 115 years ago-May %, 1S1S-when
that state was still more French than American.
From the first he had passion for guns, for
horses. for everything military. SO when he
was sent to school in New York. conducted by
the brothers. Peugnet two excaptains of Ma
poleon, and listened to their tales of the great
campaigns in which they had fought under the
Little Corporal, this passion was only intensified.
The natural result was an appointment to the
United States Military academy at West Point
in 1884. One of his instructors there was a
Kentuckan named Robert Anderson. A little
over quarter Of q century later the former
student was TO order his soldiers to open fire
on the fort defended by the former instructor
but he was not present when the fort was sur
rendered. ut would be an unhonorable thing"
he declared, Ito be present at the humiliation
of his friend"
In 1888 Beauregard graduated from West
Point. second in class of 40. One of his class
mates was named Irwin Mcdowell. And %
years later Irwin Mcdowell and Pierre Gustave
Toutant Beauregard were to be commanders of
the opposing forces when Bull Run creek in Vr-
ginia received its bloody baptism.
After graduation Beauregard a lieutenant in
the engineers corps. first helped in the construc-
ton of Fort Adams in Rhode Island. Then he
was sent to take charge of an engineering prof
ect at Barataria bay. So he came back to his
own Creole country. There he met and fell in
love with the lovely Laure Vilere and when
they were married two of the most distinguished
families in Louisiana were united.
Then came the Mexican war and during that
conflict he was twice brevetted for gallant and
meritorious service. first a captain, for his
gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco, and
again as a major for bravery in the battle of
Chaultepec. He returned to New Orleans as
local hero and was presented with a golden
sword. But the years which followed were dull
and uneventful ones and Beauregard was rapid
y slipping into obscurity.
Then by pulling certain wires he succeeded
in getting himself appointed as commandant at
West Point This was two days after Lincoln's
election in 1860 and when it seemed certain that
Louisiana would secede from the Union. On
his way to New York Beauregard stopped off in
Washington TO explain to his superior officers
that should Louisiana withdraw from the Union
he must follow his state The result was that
he was superintendent at West Point for only
FIVE days when he was ordered back to Loui-
siana thus establishing a record for briefness
in the time which any officer held that post
Louisiana seeded and Beauregard, the engi-
neer who had prepared and presented a com
prehensive program for the defense of the Mis-
sissppi river passage was called to Montgomery
for special meeting with Provisional President
| jefferson Davis He kissed his wife good-by