NF Anybody read Beauregard?

[gary]

Like Joseph E. Johnston, Beauregard penned his memoirs? Has anybody ever read it or is it a waste of time?

 

[RedRover]

Like Joseph E. Johnston, Beauregard penned his memoirs? Has anybody ever read it or is it a waste of time?

They are actually written by Colonel Alfred Roman, of General Beauregard's wartime staff. Of course expressing the General's viewpoint and interests. I rather enjoyed reading them. I think I recall some slight confusion of incidents/dates during Hood's campaign in Tennessee in the second volume, but it was not something Beauregard and his staff was directly involved with.

Pretty interesting stuff throughout.

The Military Historical Society of Massachusetts review from the 1800s:

["Memoires pour servir" means to serve as potentially useful source material.]

....

Col. Alfred Roman.
​

They might be read online.

Volume 1:

The military operations of General Beauregard in the war between the states, 1861 to 1865; including a brief personal sketch and a narrative of his services in the war with Mexico, 1846-8 : Roman, Alfred, 1824-1892 : Free Download, Borrow, and Stream

Military Service Inst

archive.org

Volume 2:

The military operations of General Beauregard in the war between the states, 1861 to 1865; including a brief personal sketch and a narrative of his services in the war with Mexico, 1846-8 : Roman, Alfred, b. 1824 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streamin

Vol. 2

archive.org

 

[gary]

Thank you so much. I was unaware it was available at Archive.org.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

The Military Historical Society of Massachusetts review from the 1800s:

"...many episodes, especially those involving the personal differences between General Beauregard and President Davis, are...dwelt upon with needless particularity."

That's our Beauregard!

 

[Louisiana Jayhawker]

Being a Louisianian myself and half French, I am fairly fond of General Beauregard. I have on my kindle Volume 2 due to, at my time, my interest in the Overland Campaign involving Ben Butler/Grant/Beauregard. I had read years ago several times my favored old classic biography of Beauregard named, if memory serves me, NAPOLEON IN GRAY, or something to that effect. I am pleased Jeff Davis did not listen to Beauregard's advice often. I am of the opinion the Beauregard's advice of striking Grant's open left flank quickly after Ben Butler's withdrawal from Battle of Fort Druery Bluff had the only respectable chance of defeating Grant in that campaign. Beauregard Vol. 2 lays this out. Beauregard wrongly blamed Whiting failure to appear at Fort Druery for not destroying Butler but Beauregard had the right military objective of destruction of Butler then combine with Lee for the destruction of Grant/Meade. But it was, of course, complete fanciful thinking of Beauregard's part that Davis would agree with that. If not mistaken, Beauregard was the first to warn Davis/Lee that Grant/Meade were soon to cross over the James River and fall upon Petersburg. They ignored him initially until too late.

 

[delta rifles]

Alfred Roman was the son of two-term Governor of Louisiana and holder of pretty much every major political office in the state Andre Bienvenue Roman who really transformed the state during the antebellum period.

I've never read Beauregard's memoirs, but it isn't surprising that it was written by a former staff member/member of the creole elite of South Louisiana.

On a completely unrelated note, Beauregard's son Rene was the last owner of the plantation that sits on the Chalmette/Battle of New Orleans. The house has always been one of my favorite examples of New Orleans architecture.

 

[milhistbuff1]

Alfred Roman was the son of two-term Governor of Louisiana and holder of pretty much every major political office in the state Andre Bienvenue Roman who really transformed the state during the antebellum period.

I've never read Beauregard's memoirs, but it isn't surprising that it was written by a former staff member/member of the creole elite of South Louisiana.

On a completely unrelated note, Beauregard's son Rene was the last owner of the plantation that sits on the Chalmette/Battle of New Orleans. The house has always been one of my favorite examples of New Orleans architecture.

To the last point- That's the same parcel ABT is running a preservation campaign for presently, correct? Been meaning to read more of the memoirs including Gen. B.

 

[delta rifles]

To the last point- That's the same parcel ABT is running a preservation campaign for presently, correct? Been meaning to read more of the memoirs including Gen. B.

The Malus-Beauregard House was built in the 1830's. It sits just in front of the Rodriguez Canal and about 50 yards from the present-day Mississippi River levee.

I think the one you are referring to is Ignace de Lino Chalmette's plantation, but that burned down during the battle. I am not exactly sure where the house was located.

To make it more confusing:
The Chalmette Plantations (I believe there were five: Jumonville, Villere, De La Ronde/Versailles, Lacoste, and McCarty) that were on or around the area during the battle no longer exist.

The ruins of the De La Ronde/Versailles Plantation are the neutral ground- median in non-New Orleans terms between the opposing stretches of Judge Perez Highway. The land that the Battlefield Trust is trying to preserve is between the Chalmette National Cemetery and the chemical plants along the river..which is where I think Ignace de Lino Chalmette's plantation was located. The McCarty tract was where Jackson's lines were. The Jumonville area was where the British field hospital was, and the De La Ronde/Versailles Plantation served as Packenham's headquarters. The Villere plantation is about three miles down the road from the national park.

 

[milhistbuff1]

The Malus-Beauregard House was built in the 1830's. It sits just in front of the Rodriguez Canal and about 50 yards from the present-day Mississippi River levee.

I think the one you are referring to is Ignace de Lino Chalmette's plantation, but that burned down during the battle. I am not exactly sure where the house was located.

To make it more confusing:
The Chalmette Plantations (I believe there were five: Jumonville, Villere, De La Ronde/Versailles, Lacoste, and McCarty) that were on or around the area during the battle no longer exist.

The ruins of the De La Ronde/Versailles Plantation are the neutral ground- median in non-New Orleans terms between the opposing stretches of Judge Perez Highway. The land that the Battlefield Trust is trying to preserve is between the Chalmette National Cemetery and the chemical plants along the river..which is where I think Ignace de Lino Chalmette's plantation was located. The McCarty tract was where Jackson's lines were. The Jumonville area was where the British field hospital was, and the De La Ronde/Versailles Plantation served as Packenham's headquarters. The Villere plantation is about three miles down the road from the national park.

Thank you for clarifying and the additional background. Much appreciated!