What was wrong with Beauregard's throat?

[Cody C. Engdahl]

I've seen it referenced in several sources that he was not well during the first part of 1862. He even referenced it in his Shiloh report. So what was it? What was wrong with him?

 

[lelliott19]

He even referenced it in his Shiloh report.

He also referenced it in a speech he did not give:
"But, my friends, I do not appear before you to-night to make a speech, and for several reasons -- first, It is a time for action, not speaking; and secondly, my throat has been been left in such a condition by recent illness, that the only way in which I can speak now is through the mouths of my cannon." [New York Times, November 19, 1862, page 2.]

 

[lelliott19]

Link to article above: https://www.nytimes.com/1862/11/19/archives/a-speech-from-beauregard.html

Daily Morning News. (Savannah, Ga.), February 17, 1862, page 2.

The Alleghanian. (Ebensburg, Pa.), March 13, 1862, page 2. (Substantially the same printed in a number of Northern newspapers.)

Wilmington Journal.(Wilmington, NC), February 20, 1862, page 2.

Weekly Standard. (Raleigh, NC), March 26, 1862, page 3.

 

[donna]

Interesting. I wonder if was typhoid fever.

 

[Cody C. Engdahl]

He also referenced it in a speech he did not give:
"But, my friends, I do not appear before you to-night to make a speech, and for several reasons -- first, It is a time for action, not speaking; and secondly, my throat has been been left in such a condition by recent illness, that the only way in which I can speak now is through the mouths of my cannon." [New York Times, November 19, 1862, page 2.]

That's an awesome quote!

 

[lelliott19]

That's an awesome quote!

Isnt it!?!?!?! Had you ever heard or read it before? I just love searching and reading old newspaper articles. So much FANTASTIC information hidden away, just awaiting discovery!
EDIT TO ADD: As far as I can tell, it has never been used in any book or article before.

 

[Saruman]

I've seen it referenced in several sources that he was not well during the first part of 1862. He even referenced it in his Shiloh report. So what was it? What was wrong with him?

Beauregard suffered from a chronic throat ailment since his boyhood (possibly chronic tonsillitis) and during the Mexican War is believed to have contracted a mosquito-borne disease that may have exacerbated the condition. Beauregard's throat affliction became so pronounced with the onset of Winter 1861 that he consented to throat surgery before leaving for his command in the Western Theater.

Wiley Sword wrote that prior to the battle of Shiloh, on April 5th, Army Surgeon David W. Yandell "was asked that evening by Johnston for an opinion on Beauregard's behavior [ie, wanting to call off the attack]. Yandell stated that Beauregard was as yet a very sick man, and that his opinions should be largely disregarded, implying that the illness had temporarily affected his mind. Beauregard was thereafter relegated by Johnston to a secondary role of remaining behind in the army's rear to send forward reinforcements and directing munitions to the front line".

 

[Cody C. Engdahl]

Beauregard suffered from a chronic throat ailment since his boyhood (possibly chronic tonsillitis) and during the Mexican War is believed to have contracted a mosquito-borne disease that may have exacerbated the condition. Beauregard's throat affliction became so pronounced with the onset of Winter 1861 that he consented to throat surgery before leaving for his command in the Western Theater.

Wiley Sword wrote that prior to the battle of Shiloh, on April 5th, Army Surgeon David W. Yandell "was asked that evening by Johnston for an opinion on Beauregard's behavior [ie, wanting to call off the attack]. Yandell stated that Beauregard was as yet a very sick man, and that his opinions should be largely disregarded, implying that the illness had temporarily affected his mind. Beauregard was thereafter relegated by Johnston to a secondary role of remaining behind in the army's rear to send forward reinforcements and directing munitions to the front line".

Thank you. This is good stuff.

 

[JOHN42768]

Interesting, thanks

 

[jackt62]

Beauregard suffered from a chronic throat ailment since his boyhood (possibly chronic tonsillitis) and during the Mexican War is believed to have contracted a mosquito-borne disease that may have exacerbated the condition. Beauregard's throat affliction became so pronounced with the onset of Winter 1861 that he consented to throat surgery before leaving for his command in the Western Theater.

Wiley Sword wrote that prior to the battle of Shiloh, on April 5th, Army Surgeon David W. Yandell "was asked that evening by Johnston for an opinion on Beauregard's behavior [ie, wanting to call off the attack]. Yandell stated that Beauregard was as yet a very sick man, and that his opinions should be largely disregarded, implying that the illness had temporarily affected his mind. Beauregard was thereafter relegated by Johnston to a secondary role of remaining behind in the army's rear to send forward reinforcements and directing munitions to the front line".

I've often read about Beauregard's throat ailment, but could never find any specifics as to the actual problem. My question now is what kind of throat surgery would have been done at that time. Doesn't sound like a very confident type of treatment given the state of medical knowledge in those days.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

I found this. Read the follow-up comments. They offer some great insight too.

http://shilohdiscussiongroup.com/topic/1847-beauregards-elephant/

 

[donna]

Eleanor great find. I have found some other mention to his throat and that he had surgery.