than ever to have an efficient officer of higher rank than brigadier-general to command in South Carolina. General Hill has not entered on duty; he is awaiting an answer to his communication to you from this place. "G. T. BEAUREGARD.” About a week later the following telegram was sent to General Anderson: "CHARLESTON, S. C., March 30th, 1864. "Be prepared to return, soon as enemy's movements shall permit, Colquitt's brigade, then the Virginia regiments, then Harrison's brigade. Meanwhile, if you can safely strike at Palatka, you should do so. How are General Gardner's operations against deserters progressing? "G. T. BEAUREGARD." On or about the 9th of April, finding that the enemy had nearly ceased his operations against Charleston and the coast, and believing he could, under such circumstances, absent himself from his command, without inconvenience to the service, General Beauregard notified the War Department that he would soon apply for a short leave of absence; intending, as he had done in June, 1862, to repair to Bladon Springs, Alabama, to seek that quietude of mind and relief from the incessant routine of duty which, on a former occasion, had produced the most beneficial effect upon him. His despatch read as follows: "CHARLESTON, S. C., April 9th, 1864. "General SAMUEL COOPER, Adjt. and Insp.-Genl., Richmond, Va. : “*** My health requires I should apply for a leave, dependent, however, on operations of enemy. But I cannot make application without a competent major-general. G. T. BEAUREGARD." The next day he wrote as follows to General Gilmer: "CHARLESTON, S. C., April 10th, 1864. "Major-Genl. J. F. GILMER, Comdg. Savannah, Ga.: 66 "My dear General,—Your favor of the 8th inst. has been received. I fully appreciate the views therein expressed, which are correct, but of difficult execution under present circumstances. "With regard to General M., I am aware of the objections to him, but my fear was to fare worse. You are, no doubt, aware that not those officers who stand the highest in the estimation of the War Department are sent here permanently. In fact, this has been called 'the Department of Refuge.' Moreover, my recommendations of and applications for officers are seldom, if ever, heeded. With the exception of Brigadier-General Walker, Colonels Elliott and Harris, and Captain Johnson (the last two engineers), not one of my officers has been promoted since the beginning of the memorable siege of Charleston, although I have recommended several. This is encouraging neither to myself nor to those under my orders. "Since your other letter Major-General J. has been ordered to this Department to relieve you. I hope he will do, but from what I hear I fear not. "I have to request that you will give him, as far as practicable, the benefit of your experience and observation, especially to keep him out of any faux pas or errors. Give him as full and detailed advice as possible, providing for such contingencies as may happen. I will, on my part, give him such general instructions as ought to suffice. "Regretting to lose your services, and with my kind regards to Mrs. G., I remain, Yours, very truly, "G. T. BEAUREGARD." General Beauregard was preparing to leave about the middle of April, when a telegram from the War Department was received during the night of the 13th, inquiring if his health would permit him to come and assist General Lee in the defence of Richmond. His answer was: "CHARLESTON, S. C., April 14th, 1864. "Genl. BRAXTON BRAGG, Commander-in-Chief, Richmond, Va. : "G. T. BEAUREGARD." The order was therefore issued. It was as follows: "RICHMOND, April 15th, 1864. "General G. T. BEAUREGARD : "Repair with least delay practicable to Weldon, N. C., where instructions will be sent to you. S. COOPER, Adjt. and Insp.-Genl.” On the 16th no general officer had yet been sent to relieve him. This made him uneasy, and all the more so that troops were again being withdrawn from his Department as rapidly as they could be forwarded. His telegram to General Cooper, of that date, read thus: "Owing to reduction of forces, I shall leave this Department with great concern, which would be much diminished if General Hill were ordered to relieve me; for since his arrival here he has been making himself acquainted with the forces and localities. My Chief of Staff is still quite sick, and cannot be, at present, of much assistance to General Jones. I am confident a positive order from War Department would be obeyed with alacrity by General Hill. G. T. BEAUREGARD.” On the 17th he sent the following telegram to General Whiting: "Am ordered to Weldon for present, but am desirous to see you as I pass through Wilmington, on Wednesday, about 10 o'clock. "G. T. BEAUREGARD." On the 18th General Cooper received the following despatch: "General Jones has not yet arrived. Have telegraphed Gilmer to come forthwith. I will leave to-morrow. I have recalled all South Carolina and Georgia troops from Florida, except one battalion infantry and one and a half regiments cavalry. G. T. BEAUREGARD." General Jones finally arrived on the 19th. The next day General Beauregard telegraphed General Cooper in these words: "CHARLESTON, S. C., April 20th, 1864. "I have turned over command, temporarily, to General Jones to-day. I will leave for point of destination in one hour. "G. T. BEAUREGARD.” Before doing so, however, and in order to take official leave of the gallant troops of his Department, he issued to them this address: "HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT S. C., GA., AND FLA., CHARLESTON, S. C., April 20th, 1864. "Officers and Soldiers,-By an order of his Excellency the President I am relieved temporarily from the command of this Department by Major-General Sam Jones, to be assigned to another important command. "I leave with the assurance that you will transfer to my successor, a meritorious officer of the Armics of Virginia and Tennessee, that confidence and spirit of prompt obedience to orders which have contributed so much to your success heretofore. "Should you ever become discouraged, remember that a people from whom have sprung such soldiers as those who defended Wagner and Sumter can never be subjugated in a war of independence. “G. T. BEAUREGARD, Genl. Comdg." CHAPTER XXXV. Arrival of General Beauregard at Weldon, April 22d.-He Disapproves Operations against Plymouth and Newbern.-Predicts Burnside's Attack upon Petersburg, and Advises Concentration of Forces. - Letter of General Bragg.-Alarm of the Authorities in Richmond.-General Butler Beaten off on the 6th and 7th of May.-Recall of Troops.-General Hoke's Junction with General Ransom.-General Beauregard Reaches Drury's Bluff. -His Plan to Destroy Butler's and Grant's Forces.-He Submits it to General Bragg.-The Latter Approves, but will not Consent without the President's Ratification.-President Davis Visits Drury's Bluff.-Refuses his Consent.-General Beauregard's Command is Extended.-He Forms a Plan of Attack.-Narrative of the Battle of Drury's Bluff.-Failure of General Whiting to Arrive in Time.-General Wise's Comments upon him. He Resigns his Command.-Errors of Mr. Davis. GENERAL BEAUREGARD reached Weldon, North Carolina, on the 22d of April, 1864; but, contrary to the assurances given him by the War Department, found no orders awaiting him there. He immediately called General Bragg's attention to the fact, and the next day was officially assigned to the command of what was called the Department of North Carolina and Cape Fear, including Virginia south of the James and Appomattox, and all that portion of North Carolina east of the mountains. On the 23d he assumed. command of his new Departinent, which he henceforth designated as the "Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia," and applied for those officers of his former staff whose services he deemed indispensable. While at Weldon, watching and aiding certain operations specially ordered by the War Department against Plymouth and Newbern, but of which he did not approve, he carefully studied on the maps then in his possession the field around Petersburg, between that city and the James, and along the lines of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, then about to become the theatre of a hostile movement against the Confederate capital under Major - General B. F. Butler. This expedition General Beauregard had anticipated for several weeks, and he had instructed his Chief-Engineer, Colonel Harris, to reconnoitre, for the purpose of occupation and defence, the position at Bermuda Hundreds, which afterwards became the base of General Butler's operations. He had also instructed Colonel Harris to inspect closely old Fort Powhatan, a few miles below City Point, on the James, which he desired to strengthen and re-arm with heavy guns, besides blocking up the river-there narrower than elsewhere-with torpedoes and other obstructions. But before this could be done General Butler had landed at Bermuda Hundreds an army of about 30,000 men, composed of two corps, under Generals Gillmore and W. F. Smith. On the 25th of April General Beauregard sent the following telegrams to General Bragg, who was then acting as military adviser of the President and General Chief of Staff of the Confederate Armies: "1. Every indication is that Burnside will attack Richmond via Petersburg. Are we prepared to resist him in that direction? Can the forces of this Department be concentrated in time? are questions worthy of immediate consideration by the War Department. "2. Burnside's point of attack being still uncertain, and our ironclad in the Neuse having grounded firmly, is it prudent to leave longer the forces in Department so scattered? Is object in view worth the great risk incurred? I know not yet what troops are about Petersburg. Here there is only one State regiment, and in Wilmington two regiments, infantry, movable troops." He also wrote a letter to General Bragg on the same subject,* condemning the existing state of affairs, and pointing out the danger to be apprehended in case of a sudden attack by the enemy upon Petersburg or Weldon. He advised the division of his Department into three military districts, under three major-generals, with a view to insure a successful defence with the smallest available force. But the Newbern expedition was yet looked upon by the Administration as the true initiatory step to future and more important concentration. General Bragg, therefore, answered evasively, as follows: 1. "General BEAUREGARD: "RICHMOND, VA., April 25th, 1864. "Reports of yesterday represent Burnside landing in force at Yorktown. Evans's whole brigade was ordered to Wilmington. Has it arrived? Which brigade can best be spared from South Carolina-Colquitt's or Wise's? The Navy Department has taken action to relieve the grounded gunboat. * See Appendix. "BRAXTON BRAGG, General." |