The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-06-02

in every respect. Then too, Beauregard was a
Frenchman and the tradition is essentially An
glo-Saxon Add TO this the fact of "the Jefer-
son Davis tradition" and it is easy to under
stand why Beauregard was thrust further into
obscurity j. and, perhaps, into something
like disgrace"
Mr.. Basso's biography brings out what other
writer's have brought out, that Jefferson Davis
was not always the hero of the South that he
later became. Modern historical writing has
made plain TO all who would know the truth
that neither Davis in the South nor Lincoln in
the North had the united support Of their peo-
pie in the prosecution of the war and there were
in the South quite as many people who disliked
Davis intensely as there were Northerners who
disliked Lincoln. But the tragic figure of Davis
in defeat and the Imprisonment which made
him something of martyr placed him in new
light in the eyes Of his people. So it is only
natural, perhaps, in view Of the hatred between
the two men that the reputation of Beauregard
should suffer as the reputation of Davis was
enhanced.
Certainly it was Davis who constantly thwart-
ed the ambition of Beauregard, who more than
once Inundated him and made him "eat out
his heart playing second fiddle to officers he out
ranked" 1t was not long after Sumter and
Manassas that the impossbility of reconciling
the points Of view of the two in regard to
the conduct of the war became apparent. More
than one historian has pointed out how Davis
suffered from the deiusion that he great
military strategist and he would brook no in
reference with his strategy of waging de-
fensive war and trying to defend every part of
the far-fung empire of the South
In contrast to this attitude was Beauregards
desire for a concentration of the Confederate
forces in the vitality important places and the
waging of a smashing offensive which
would decide the issue as quickly as possible.
One of the most interesting "ifs' of the Civil
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
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, it is difficult to say.
Beauregard was born on plantation in Loui-
siana just lis years ago-May %, 1s1S-when
that state was still more French than American.
From the first he had a 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 appointment to the
United States Military academy at West Point
In 1884. One of his instructors there
Kentuckian named Robert Anderson. A little
over quarter of 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 sur
rendered. 1T would be an unhonorable thing"
he declared, ito be present at the humiliation
of his friend"
In 1888 Beauregard was 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, 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 fen in
love with the lovely Laurie Where 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 as a captain, for his
gaIlantry 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 presented with a golden
sword. But the years which followed were dull
and uneventful ones and Beauregard was rapid
" slipping into obscurity.
Then by pulling certain wires he succeeded
In getting himself appointed commandment at
West Point This was two days after Lincoln's
election in 1850 and when il seemed certain that