P.G.T. Beauregard
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Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard (1818-1893) - Born 28 May 1919 in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. A career U.S. Army officer and engineer, who served in the Mexican War and who resigned his commission to become a Confederate General during the U.S. Civil War. He died 20 Feb 1893 at New Orleans, Louisiana. Known as P.G.T. Beauregard.  He entered the United States Military Academy on 1 Jul 1834 and graduated in the Class of 1838 ranking 2nd out of 45 graduates. After graduation he was first assigned to the 1st U.S. Artillery and shortly thereafter to the U.S. Corps of Engineers. He was assigned various engineering duties supervising the building and repair of fortifications including: Fort Adams (1), Tower Dupre and Fort McHenry. He served in the Mexican War (1846-1848). He was wounded at the Battle of Chapultepec and breveted Major for his gallantry and conduct. After the Mexican War he served along the gulf coast supervising the building and repair of fortifications including: Fort Gaines (1), Fort St. Philip, Fort Jackson (2), Fort Livingston and Fort McRee. He was appointed Superintendent of the United States Military Academy in January 1861 but served only five days (23-28 Jan 1861) before his southern sympathies caused the appointment to be revoked. He resigned his officer's commission on 20 Feb 1861. During the U.S. Civil War became the first Confederate General Officer and took command of the defenses of Charleston Harbor. He ordered the first shots of the U.S. Civil War to be fired from Fort Johnson (1) at Fort Sumter. After the surrender of Fort Sumter Beauregard participated in the First Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Shiloh and the Siege of Corinth. Controversy arose over his actions during and after the battles and he was relieved of command. He was then posted to Charleston to command the defenses of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. He later commanded the defenses of Petersburg and was again relieved of combat command. He ended the war surrendering to General William T. Sherman on 26 April 1865. Beauregard held various public positions after the war including adjutant general of the Louisiana state militia. He died on 20 Feb 1893 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is buried in the Army of Tennessee tumulus in Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana. His residence in New Orleans is restored at 1113 Chartres Street. Sources: |
