Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/423

 Military Operations of General Beauregard. 413

may have grown into something bordering on restrained animosity.

General Beauregard's anxieties had been great about the defense of New Orleans, and, on one occasion, he strongly urged his views on the subject, and endeavored to convince the President, in a per- sonal interview, of the necessity of constructing floating booms and other obstructions between Forts St. Philip and Jackson, on the Mississippi. "The President," says Colonel Roman, "gave but little weight to these suggestions. ' '

In a subsequent interview with General Lovell, who had been appointed to the command of New Orleans, "General Beauregard," continues Colonel Roman, "emphasized, both orally and in writing, the absolute necessity of such an obstruction, and hoped that Gen- eral Lovell, who had approved of his system, would lose no time in putting it into operation." Later events showed, however, that the work was not constructed as planned and advised by General Beau- regard, both in his conference with General Lovell and in his memoir to the Louisiana Military Board.

In connection with this subject it may not be amiss to state that the whole correspondence of General Lovell, whilst in command of New Orleans, with the Confederate Government at Richmond, was communicated to the writer of this article at Camp Moore, on the Jackson railroad, after the evacuation of that city. Governor Moore, who was present, referred very pointedly to a remarkable document in his possession, but which, however, we did not have the oppor- tunity to see. He said, with bitter emphasis, that it would demon- strate the imbecile carelessness of the Confederate Government about the defense of New Orleans. We felt much interested and aston- ished at certain disclosures. General Lovell, who seemed to be aggrieved and sore, declared emphatically that he would publish in due time the whole correspondence, in order to vindicate his military honor and reputation. Has that publication taken place? We be- lieve not. Does he still live, and will he continue to keep under lock and key these historical materials ? As to Governor Moore, he is dead ; is the document he mentioned still in existence ?

But we feel a sort of relief in turning away our sight from the field of Manassas, where, as we are told by Colonel Roman, "there was not twenty-four hours' food for the troops brought together for that battle. The fact is," he says, "that some command was without food for forty hours after the battle." With what a strange com- missariat we must have been afflicted !

The scene soon shifts, and from Manassas General Beauregard is