Year: 1878

AhVUA aknE w ARas


What Might Have Reem-e4em. Beaure'


cards Suggestions as TO o. Navy
and the Use of Negroes
I'm the Army.


IN. Y. SUM-


Gen. Beauregard. who has been in New Yorl


for several weeks this fall, left for st. Louis
few days ago. While he was here representa-


tive Of the Sun CHANGED to meet the Genera


at the dinner table of mutual friend, ant
elected from him some information in regarC
to certain Incidents of the war of secession


which throw light on his (Gen. Beauregard' 8


singular disappearance from the theatre o


the war after the battle of Shiloh But as tht


General is very busy at the present time


writing his account Of '"rhe War of Seces


son," we will not divulgc any more of the


page Of the secret history OF the COnfederates


than will be found in his own words in con


versaton with the Sun reporter. When his


book is printed it will doubtless tell the


whole story of cabal that is limited at in the


work of }. B. Jones, q clerk in the War De


partment of the Confederate States govern


ment, entitled "a Rebel War Clerks Diary


Gen. Beauregard referred the writer Of this


paper to the 'tDiary" in question, and gave


the solution to many of the 'entries' in the


"Diary," which the rebel war clerk will doubt


less read with surprise when Gen. Beaure"


patd's "Narrative' Of the war is published


But to return to that part Of the conversation
between the reporter and the General which
we are permitted to put in print:


Reporter-Wh have you not written some
account of the war, Gen. Beauregard? Why
have you been silent for so long q time?


Gen. Beauregard-I have not yet written
any account Of the war in part for the lack of
without which could not write with satisfac-
tory precision, and also because have been
necessarily occupied with private business,
which left me little leisure for more than the
collection and arrangement OF material.


J1epOrter-Why have you not made to the
public at large the same explanation you
have made to me of your sudden eclipse from
the promise and prominence OF the first year
of your career as q successful leader OF the
Confederate troops?


necessary or advisable to speak publicly of
my personal relations to the war, except so
far as they may form an essential part Of its
history. TO that extent only shall my con-
tempIated "Narrative' OF the War Of Se-
cession touch upon what you may refer to as
my ''sudden eclipse" etc. Should my acts,
however as q Confederate commander be I'M
Justly criticised or assailed by any respOnSi-
bic party whose statements may have weight
with the people OF the South, [ would not
hesitate to vindicate myself in the most posi-
tive and convincing manner possible, throw
ing the responsibility, il any, where 1t prop
erly belongs.


Reporter-Do you propose to write history
of the whole war. or of that port only which
you took in it


Gen. Beauregard-I am engaged just now
In writing circumstantial narrative Of the
military operations In which took part, from
the firing of the first gun at Fort Sumter, in
April, 1861 to the close of the war at Green's
boro, N. c., in May, 1865


Reporter you not hesitate when the
war broke out as to what side you would draw
your sword for?


Gen. Beauregard-No When called upon
by the Governor of the State Of Louisiana In
J January, 1861 for my assistance in upholding
what she considered her constitutional rights,
I resigned at once my commission In the
United States Corps Of Military Engineers
and rendered my services to my native State,
where my home and the homes OF my kindred
were. / did not inquire If she was right or
wrong, for her call to me was like that of q
beloved mother appealing in moment of
distress to her son for help. My attachment
to the Union, at the time, was great, but to
my native State it was greater; and she, be-
ing apparently on the weaker side, felt it
still more imperatively my duty to go to her
assistance II [ erred, trust never to COM
nit a greater error, but no power on earth
would make me take up arms against my own
native State.


Repo1 ter-Did you Or did you not was
rumored in the South-send q messenger to
Ala, during the siege of Fort
Sumter recommending to the Confederate
government the purchase OF certain war veS-
sells that were for sale in England having
been built for the East India Company?


Gen. Beauregard- are partly right; the
rumor was not without foundation. The
to buy some six large and strong
steamers. then just built in England for the
East India Company, but not needed for it,
as the British government had refused to re-
new it's charter, WAS made to the Confederate
government early in May, 1861 by the wealthy
firm of John Fraser Il Co., OF Charleston, S.
G., whose partner and agent in Liverpool OF
fered to make the purchase, payable in cot
ton. Those steamers were to be Immediately
and equipped to carry out that cot
ton, and as much moro as practicable, from
any port or ports Of the South, which, it was
thought, could be easily accomplished, as the
United States were not then prepared to en-
force blockade of those ports. After per-
forming the duty referred to those steamers
were to be turned it was suggested, into
'cruisers" to destroy the commerce OF the
United States | met the messenger Of the
Messrs. Frazer d Co. on the cars to Mont
On arriving there introduced him,
took advantage of the opportunity to urge
lpon him the immediate adoption of the
proposition cas- war measure


Reportor-Were the vessels purchased?


Gen Beaurcgard-NO.


Reporter-Why not? What answer was
What reason was given for neg
Getting such an opportunity?


Gen. Boaurcgard with smile that spoke
learned, after my return to
Charleston, tt at the offer had been declined
)y the Confederate government; for it did not
;hink that they would be required, as it was
1ot believed that the war would continue
ong. One member, at least, of the Cabinet
reely expressed the opinion that it would not
asst over sixty or ninety days.


Reporter-Did you think so?


Gen. Beauregard-I believed that we were
Engaged in a long and terrible war, and l
Wished to be prepared accordingly. / was,
therefore, anxious that those vessels should
% bought. A large supply of cotton in
Europe would have given us the 'sinews of
war" Five or six strong and fast steamers
IS those were reported to be, placed under
,he command of brave and Jealous officers
such as Scmmes Maf1itt. Brown, Taylor
Read and others proved themselves to be sub
have, during the first year
If the war, driven the commerce Of the
United States from all the seas of the globe.
This was abundantly proved during the war